Podcast appearances and mentions of Arlene Foster

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are former first minister of Northern Ireland Baroness Foster, Labour MP Peter Prinsley, SNP MP Stephen Gethins and political commentator Samantha Smith.

Former First Minister Arlene Foster has been advertising herself as a renewable energy expert at a cost of more than £10,000 a day. The Belfast Telegraph went undercover to get a quote for her services, the agency said that hiring the Baroness for a full day would cost “in the region of £10,000”. The decision to advertise her as a ‘renewable energy expert' comes as a surprise to many due to her involvement in the RHI scandal. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As tricolours burned on the bonfires in the north before the Twelfth of July, the Irish far right stayed silent. What does that tell us about their allegiances?Why are there so many Israel flags flying in loyalist areas in the north? What does that tell us about their allegiances?On Free State, Dion and Joe look at what is next for unionism as their world shrinks. How much longer can they be defined by what they don't like? And, after the GB News live coverage of the Twelfth, the boys wonder who is better at anchoring a show - Joe Brolly or Arlene Foster?This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Linehan is joined by Cormac McQuinn and Jennifer Bray to discuss the week in politics: · The last fortnight has seen several incidents of councillors being verbally and physically attacked while out canvassing for the forthcoming local elections. A disturbing trend that hasn't been a feature of previous elections.· The panel dig into what the Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll results say about the volatility of public opinion right now.· And neither current First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill, or former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster, came away from the UK Covid-19 inquiry unscathed. And the panel pick their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week: · Ronan McGreevey writing 50 years on from the Dublin-Monaghan bombings.· Laura Kennedy does the arithmetic of emigration.· Stephen Collins writes of Micheál Martin's political enemies postponing their big move. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Covid Inquiry has now been and gone from Northern Ireland.

Arlene Foster has been accused of deflecting questions at the Covid Inquiry. The former first minister was grilled about her role during the pandemic. In questioning by barrister Clair Dobbin, Mrs Foster said she has “deep regret” over the executive's response during the early days of the outbreak. Belfast Telegraph's Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride joins Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neil occupied the highest political offices in Northern Ireland as the Covid scamdemic hit. O'Neil deliberately erased all her Whatsapp messages, despite legal advice to the contrary, but Foster didn't and now we get to see at least SOME of what they said.   BUY ME A COFFEE HERE AND SUPPORT MY WORK ON THIS PODCAST! DO JOIN MY SUBSTACK HERE!   This podcast is sponsored by https://www.quantumhypno.co.uk/  

“Described in 2017 as the second most powerful woman in UK politics, Arlene Foster made her first appearance on BBC Newsnight aged 17, after her school bus was bombed by the PIRA,” notes Foster's website. Having lived through a terrorist attack at a young age, Baroness Foster knew that she wanted to be a leader of […]

“Described in 2017 as the second most powerful woman in UK politics, Arlene Foster made her first appearance on BBC Newsnight aged 17, after her school bus was bombed by the PIRA,” notes Foster's website.Having lived through a terrorist attack at a young age, Baroness Foster knew that she wanted to be a leader of change in Northern Ireland. Throughout her career in politics, she has held several positions—Minister for the Environment, Minister for the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment, and Minister for Finance and Personnel, to name a few. Most recently, she held the position of First Minister of Northern Ireland. Drawing on these recent experiences, Baroness Foster will highlight post-Brexit benefits to transatlantic trade and endorse a U.S.-U.K. Free Trade Agreement in a conversation with Heritage Senior Trade Policy Analyst Andrew Hale.In addition to currently sitting in the House of Lords, Baroness Foster is also a presenter on GB News. In keeping with her lifelong campaign against terrorism, she has recently used her platforms to call out the antisemitism and pro-Hamas positions of the left-wing parties in the U.K. and Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The threat of terrorism first touched Arlene Foster's life when she was just a child. Her father was serving as a police officer in the United Kingdom when he was shot in his own home by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in 1979.The Provisional Irish Republican Army group was seeking to end British rule in Northern Ireland. The U.K. designated it a terrorist organization. Law enforcement, according to Foster, was seen as opposition to the efforts of the paramilitary group. Foster's father survived, but less than a decade later, when Foster was 17, the Provisional Irish Republican Army bombed a school bus she was on. Thankfully, Foster and everyone else on the bus survived the attack.Today, bearing the title of baroness and serving in the House of Lords, Foster says she chose to get involved in politics “to be a democratic voice for the union, for the United Kingdom.” “There's always an alternative to terrorism,” she says. “There's always an alternative to violence.” Fosters joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to not only share her story, but also how the U.K. weathered terrorism in Northern Ireland years ago and the need to stand against Hamas and other terrorist activity today. She also weighs in on the strategic relationship between the U.S. and the U.K. and why a free-trade agreement would strengthen those ties and benefit both nations. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The threat of terrorism first touched Arlene Foster's life when she was just a child. Her father was serving as a police officer in the United Kingdom when he was shot in his own home by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in 1979.   The Provisional Irish Republican Army group was seeking to end British […]

This week in Westminster has been dominated by the news that we can expect to see power sharing restored at Stormont in the near future. James Heale gets the reaction of former DUP first minister Baroness Arlene Foster.  Produced by Natasha Feroze and Oscar Edmondson. 

Former Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster joins the programme to talk about a return to devolution in Northern Ireland and the fourth anniversary of Brexit. Author Fiona Williams is out with her debut novel, The House of Broken Bricks. She joins Emma to talk about the ways in which the book relates to her real life in terms of navigating issues of race and belonging, and why she wanted to write a story so intertwined with nature. Thames Valley Police has referred itself to the policing regulator after a BBC investigation revealed that officers ridiculed an assault victim while watching body-worn video that showed her groin. Emma speaks with the BBC's Noel Titheradge about his investigation as well as Harriet Wistrich about misogyny in the UK police force.It's out with heels and in with trainers. That's what is happening in France where, according to a poll, women are falling out of love with high heels - instead going for a chunky boot or comfortable trainer. To discuss this fashion shift, Emma is joined by Professor of Fashion History Dr Serena Dyer and French shoe designer Marie Laffont.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Cece Armstrong Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant

Come on Arlene: An interview with Arlene Foster. In this episode, we discuss the history of Northern Ireland through the lens of Arlene Foster's own turbulent life, covering everything from the IRA's attempted assassination of her father to her own downfall as leader — and everything in between. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As world leaders gathered to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, is violence glorified when it comes to remembering the Troubles? John Connolly speaks to Spectator columnist Douglas Murray and former DUP leader Arlene Foster. This episode can be watched in full on Spectator TV's Week in 60 Minutes. 

John Connolly is joined by Andrew Neil to discuss the SNP's implosion; Douglas Murray and Arlene Foster on the ongoing sectarianism in Northern Ireland; Louise Perry and Kim Cotton on the ethical dilemmas of surrogacy and David Abulafia on Neflix's portrayal of Cleopatra. 00:00 Welcome from John Connolly 01:54 Is the SNP over? With Andrew Neil 13:24 Can Northern Ireland move on from the Troubles? With Douglas Murray and Arlene Foster 32:03 Is surrogacy unethical? With Louise Perry and Kim Cotton  54:26 Why is Netflix pretending that Cleopatra was black? With David Abulafia Produced by Natasha Feroze.

The Good Friday Agreement protects everyoneAt the beginning of the month Jeffrey Donaldson established a panel, which includes Peter Robinson, Arlene Foster and some business and legal people, to advise on the DUP's approach to the Windsor Framework. Some have interpreted this as Donaldson buying time until the other side of the local government elections on 18 May. Others believe that the panel will provide Donaldson with the fig leaf he needs to buy into Protocol 2.0, accept the Windsor Framework as a fait accompli, and go back into the Executive and Assembly.H-Blocks April 1998 by Pádraic WilsonPadráic Wilson hosts our guest spot on the Good Friday Agreement 25 years on. Here he is looking back on the H Blocks in April 1998. As Easter 1998 approached there was an air of anticipation on the wings of the H Blocks and in other prisons.There was also a level of caution that was based upon past experiences.From the outset of the peace process Republican prisoners had made it clear, publicly, that we were not a bargaining tool. Maintaining the support and confidence of the wider republican base was critical for the development of the peace process.  Resolving the issue of prisoners was an important part of that. However, more important would be addressing the core causes of conflict, not tinkering with some of the consequences.Israel's apartheid warThe apartheid war being waged by the Israeli Government against the Palestinian people has reached new heights of violence. In the first three months of this year there have been more Israeli attacks against Palestinians living in the occupied west Bank than in any previous year since 2000, when the Second Intifada began.Among those killed in that time by Israel was Rachel Corrie, a 23 year old American activist who was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer in March 2003. Rachel was attempting to prevent the Israeli Army from destroying the home of a Palestinian pharmacist. I was reminded of Rachel because it was her anniversary last week and because I saw for the first time the video of a speech she made as a ten year old to her school friends.A Step ForwardSome United Irelanders have voiced doubts about the Irish Labour Party's call for the Irish Government to set up a national Citizens Assembly to plan for the future and for the SDLPs recent support for Irish Unity. This column sees these developments as good news. 

On this week's show, Kate Andrews The Spectator's economics editor speaks to historian Andrew Roberts about Britain's hollow army; Arlene Foster on the Northern Ireland Protocol; Andrew Drury on why he has has changed his mind about Shamima Begum; David Robertson on faith in politics and Lucy Dunn defends the meal deal. 00:00 Welcome from Kate Andrews 02:14 Can Britain restock its army? With Andrew Roberts and Tobias Ellwood MP 17:00 Will a deal be reached on the Northern Ireland Protocol? With Arlene Foster 29:42 Is Shamima Begum dangerous? With Andrew Drury 43:36 Can politicians separate faith from politics? With David Robertson 58:04 Is the meal deal on its way out? With Lucy Dunn Theme song written and performed by Jon Barker © 2020 Jonathan Stewart Barker  Publisher Jonathan Stewart Barker 100%, administered by prsformusic.com Recording © 2020 Jonathan Stewart Barker 100%, administered by ppl.com

How's the craic? It's another Irish night at Hearts of Oak as David Vance joins us afresh to give us his honest and often scathing appraisals on the talking points, from the news and his social media this past week. Under the microscope this episode..... - The Invasion: Illegal channel migration expanding. - Tribunal due to rule on Shamima Begum's citizenship case. - Florida issues new guidance to doctors telling them to warn patients they could suffer a heart attack after taking experimental Covid jab. - Better late than never: Past COVID infection 'as good as vaccines' at preventing severe illness. - Brexit: The betrayal of Northern Ireland beckons? - Trump statement on Sturgeon's resignation in Scotland. - Those prosecuted for silently praying outside an abortion clinic are cleared after arrest by police sparked fury. - Lolz. ‘Chinese spy balloon' shot down over Alaska last week may have belonged to US amateur ballooning group. - Net Zero Bollocks: Log burner rule change in England could land users with £300 fines. - LGBT-BS 24/7: Trans NHS - Food inflation skyrockets in the UK. Pureblood David Vance will not submit, and he will not comply. He used to be disgusted but now he tries to be amused! In the battle for truth and liberty, David chooses the front line, he has been writing and talking politics for a long time and is a published author, political commentator and podcaster extraordinaire! If the Covid 19 plandemic taught him one lesson it is that critical reasoning and a healthy contempt for the mainstream media are desirable armoury in the fight against tyranny. Follow and support David on the following links. Website: https://davidvance.net/ GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/davidvance Twitter: https://twitter.com/DVATW?s=20&t=vaRYl6wCZ4_ZLJ9DB0xpXQ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@thedavidvance Locals: https://thedavidvance.locals.com/ BrandNewTube: https://brandnewtube.com/@TheDavidVanceChannel Podcast: https://vancedavidatw.podbean.com/ Originally broadcast as a live news review 18.2.23 *Special thanks to Bosch Fawstin for recording our intro/outro on this podcast. Check out his art https://theboschfawstinstore.blogspot.com/ and follow him on GETTR https://gettr.com/user/BoschFawstin To sign up for our weekly email, find our social media, podcasts, video and livestream platforms... https://heartsofoak.org/connect/ Please like, subscribe and share! Links to stories and articles in this episode..... Immigration VIDEO https://twitter.com/DVATW/status/1626855689162293248 Begum citizenship https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/national/23329140.tribunal-rule-shamima-begums-citizenship-case-next-week/ Florida https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11760449/Florida-tells-doctors-warn-patients-suffer-HEART-ATTACK-Covid-shot.html COVID https://news.sky.com/story/past-covid-infection-as-good-as-vaccines-at-preventing-severe-illness-12812415 Northern Ireland https://twitter.com/DVATW/status/1626295465275797506?s=20 Trump's statement https://twitter.com/DVATW/status/1625982414563549185?s=20 Silently praying https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11758387/Catholic-woman-prosecuted-silently-praying-outside-abortion-clinic-CLEARED.html Spy balloon https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/21429410/chinese-spy-balloon-shot-alaska-us-amateur-ballooning-group/?utm_source=sharebar_app&utm_medium=sharebar_app&utm_campaign=sharebar_app_article Net Zero https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64261624 Trans NHS https://twitter.com/DVATW/status/1626692265698553858?s=20 Inflation https://twitter.com/DVATW/status/1626650756399960074?s=20 [0:22] Thank you for joining us. David Vance, thank you for coming on this evening to share your wisdom. [0:27] My pleasure. And don't forget, you're also streaming on Twitter as well. [0:33] We're on my Twitter and your Twitter, our Twitter. Two Twitters become one. [0:42] The wonders of technology. We'll pull in comments as they appear on the side. And as always, lots happening. I don't know if we will get through the stories. David, I noticed you had a [0:59] great guest. I'm sure all your guests are great. But Christina Bobb you had on recently. Do you want to just mention that just to give people a flavour of what they may have missed? Well, very, very simple. It's kind of ironic. A lovely guest, a really good person. Christina, as you know, is an attorney to the Donald Trump 2024 campaign. She was involved back in 2020 as well. She'd written a book, Peter, about essentially the shenanigans concerning 2020 and the lessons to be drawn from that so that 2024 isn't a repeat of 2020. So we had a great conversation. She made a lot of good points. I mean, she's very much on the, ball and then I got an email the next day from our good friends at YouTube saying you're not allowed to discuss the 2020 election. How dare you? We're taking this video off our site and, and we're giving you a seven day strike. Take that Christina Bobb, take that David Vance, take that Donald Trump. This is the cancer that is [2:01] Google slash YouTube. So yeah, what can you say, Peter? You're having a civilized conversation. Christina is a very, I mean, she's an attorney, so she knows how to speak in non-inflammatory terms and kind of fact-based questioning, but that's not allowed, which tells me that the scandal of 2020, Is so great that over in YouTube and Google, they're just not prepared to countenance, you know, so [2:29] maybe with our friend, Wachiki, having left the building, maybe Google, I don't know if it's, going to write itself or not, but anyway, Trump won.   Exactly. Yeah, you should know better, David, than streaming it. Come on.   I'm reckless. Well, the thing is, Facebook, I streamed it there, It was fine. But YouTube, oh no, you can't do that one. So yeah, I think I'll be very [2:57] selective what I bothered streaming. In fact, actually, Peter, I might not even stream. I might, just do shorts over in YouTube because it's such a, it's such a censorious assess, but there's not a good content on it. Don't get me wrong. But for people like me that want to get out more, that's challenging stuff. But it's the first strike I've had in quite a while. So there you go. [3:23] Well let's jump into some of the stories and let's have a look at immigration and let's see if I can play this. My producer is away at the moment so it'll just be me. Let me see if I can pull this up. [3:39] For the people smugglers, increased police activity around Dunkirk and Calais has made, their regular launch points more difficult to operate from. French authorities are also busy erecting miles of extra security fencing around those beaches and that's driving the small boats further south. For years the criminal gangs have predominantly used the shortest route, to the UK, pushing off first from the beaches around Calais, then expanding to include areas near Dunkirk. While occasional boats have been launched farther south, in the past six months this route using beaches near Boulogne has seen a significant spike in activity. And for maritime... David, well, this is obviously immigration. This was GB News covering it, talking about the difficulties of these poor individuals not being able to go the shortest route. And we've been really selfish in telling them they have to go slightly further. But yeah, you'd posted at this. Tell us your, your thoughts. Because GP news is really the only one that highlight this issue. [4:49] Yeah, it's only a matter of time to off come declare that any conversation on this is off limits, Peter. But yeah, I mean, it's seen that and the thing that struck me is number one, oh, how awful that they're being forced around the French coast a bit. I mean, the right place to, push them would be right round and down to Spain so that they then have to head back across the Mediterranean to Northern African shores where many of them come from. But yeah, I mean, the way the way the media would have you believe, you know, the sheer inhumanity of it, why, don't we build a bridge so they, you know, or a slide so they can just slide across the English Channel. It's all farcical anyway. I couldn't care less where their, you know, their start-off point is. It should never, ever end with them landing on British shores is what I think. I think our obligation is to stop every boat from wherever it comes, with these criminal gangs, Peter, driving it, and then these, frankly, criminals who are on it. [5:53] Because if you partake in a criminal act, I'm afraid that makes you a criminal. It doesn't have any other walk of life, but apparently not to these poor, disadvantaged, vulnerable men of military age coming across the channel in the dinghies. So yeah, it's interesting what's happening. Also by the way, in that video, did you see the fence that the French are putting up? .It's a bit two foot tall. I mean, you could step over it. That's stopping nobody unless they are very vertically challenged. So most people are going right over that fence or right through that fence. And this is what we're paying millions and millions to the French. Better pay the French nothing, have a strong naval presence that actually stops the boats and stops them coming here. Because once they get here, it's all over for us. you know it's straight to hotels in Knowsley or wherever else they can be found. But David, I thought the short fences were really quite racist because they're claiming that anyone who's a foreigner is very short and us Brits are very tall. [6:57] That's right. Yes. It's more racism. I'm glad you can see the racism here because it's important, we keep our eyes spotted for this. Yeah. It's kind of like it's such a shell operation from the French. I mean, they're doing the bare minimum. And I mean, ultimately, whether it's, you know, whether it's Calais or whether it's a bit further along, what does it matter? If they come here, they're in, so we have to stop them coming here. And of course, this is a serious point, as you know, and I'm sure those watching this understand, there's absolutely no desire on, the part of British political class to stop any of them. I mean, I've seen Nigel Farage talk about this and he's right about this. There's just no desire. They don't want to know. And as you also know, the only way we can really stop it anyway is if we leave the ECHR, if we invoke our own sovereignty, and as I say, if we actually do something, but we're too scared, to do it. Our politicians are too scared to do it. So yeah, it's going to be a slightly more southern sort of starting point for them, but the finishing point is always the same, the UK. Yeah. [8:05] Well, let's look on to actually not people coming here, but people leaving and then not being able to get back. And if only they were all like Shamima Begum in that we would strip them off the right to stay. But this is, I think, shocking to most people, tribunal to rule on Shamima Begum's citizenship case next week. So she's in this legal battle with the government demanding, no, I know I'm a terrorist and I went off with ISIS but hey, I'm actually just a nice girl now, if they're right. But it's such a waste of time and money, it's madness.   It is Peter, it's all of that and worse. So I think there's a fair chance that Islamic bride Shamima Begum will be permitted back into the UK. You've seen, I'm sure people may have seen over the past couple of weeks. [8:58] Stories going out about her almost treating her like she's a model, a kind of a fashion icon. [9:05] This is the same lady who did say that she felt that the Manchester Arena bombing, that terrible event that happened back in 2017 was justified. She said that. Same lady who said, I mean, when you think of, I mean, I put a podcast out on this today, because I was contrasting. So Shamima Beggum being treated by the parts of the media as a fashion icon is kind of shocking. And yet she sympathized with the bomber, the Jihadi, who killed all those kids and their, moms and dads. So awful stuff. And at the same time, and this is where I draw the contrast, and this is why, yes, I I do hate the British establishment. Morrissey, the singer Morrissey, then releases an album or tries to release an album, the title track of which, is specifically about the rage he felt over the bombing at that Manchester Arena. And well, what's happened to him? Well, it's not being released. That's what's happened to him. [10:11] So he's taken a view, which I think many people will feel, looking back at events like that, we shouldn't look back. They say, don't look back in anger. Morrissey says, we should look back in anger. And I say that as well. But he's non-persona, he's cancelled. Meanwhile, I reckon there's a fair chance that Shamima Begum will come back to the UK, and be hailed as some kind of new woman, strong, empowered woman coming back to bring much needed diversity, which no doubt she picked up in the Islamic State camps to the UK. Oh, what joy. [10:48] Diversity, that's what we're missing. Before I jump on to some of our COVID stories, let me just pull up some of the comments here. I've got the Gettr tab open. So Tiger Boy 1985, first on Evening Peter and David. Then Canadian Mom 1997, Evening Peter and David. Biotech Babe, Chris Davis 33, Melismac. We have, I'm trying to, there are lots, yep, there are lots of you there. So I'm scrolling, scrolling. Thank you for, few picture comments there. Thank you for joining us. And I hope we'll provide some entertainment for you as the evening progresses. So let's stay on, let's jump on to COVID, from immigration to COVID. And is this really quite an unusual story? A story of course David that we thought should have been there right at the beginning, but anti-lockdown Florida, I don't know if the Daily Mail are saying that's good or bad, anyway, issues controversial new guidance to doctors telling them to warn patients they could suffer heart attack after COVID shot. So the Florida Health have put out a release telling doctors to issue these warnings. [12:07] It's quite an unusual story, quite an unusual thing happening now. What do you, this obviously caught your eye. Well it did because I mean again the rank hypocrisy of the plagiarists in the Daily Mail. [12:21] I use the word plagiarist advisedly because it plagiarized me during the week. [12:26] So yeah, anti-lockdown Florida. Well, so is that pejorative? Can they not just say Florida? Do they have to put that in? There's the first point. The second point, it made me laugh this actually, you know, the issue of controversial new guidance. What's controversial about it? It's fact-based, no doubt about it, that we know empirically, no argument that the COVID jabs can cause [12:51] cardiovascular events such as heart attacks. So we know that. So, you know, I don't understand where the Daily Mail is coming from that, you know, they could cause heart attacks. Of course, they do cause heart attacks. We know that. But maybe Peter, I like the broader picture is perhaps, beyond the remit of the awful Daily Mail, is that this dam that is breaking, I've been going on about this now, I think the last time we talked as well, I think more and more as the weeks go by, the months go by they can't hold back. They just can't hold back the truth coming out about the jabs, about the adverse reactions, about all the horrors, the stuff that we were talking about, we were shouting about, back at the end of 2020 before they even started the jabs. We warned. And now, yeah, the Daily Mail, and I think this is, see, this is the function of organizations like the Daily Mail. They go ahead of the game a little bit to start maybe, you know, preparing people for the awful reality that, that the jabs do cause heart attacks and the jabs do everything but give you that which you were told. So I thought it was an interesting headline. So maybe the Daily Mail is just softening people up for whenever we get more and more stories, more and more information and we can see exactly what has been going on for two years. So I thought it was a significant headline, although I do dispute much of what the Daily Mail actually says. [14:21] Oh yeah, let me just bring up one of the graphs they also included, which again, this shows the adverse reactions and they actually say this is a 1700% increase. Now, it would be good if they had actually led with that instead of including that away at the beginning. Because they've given the reason and yeah, you're right, they're seemingly attacking, the officials in Florida. But yet they include the data that shows the reasons why. Again, it doesn't make sense. The story, the headline doesn't really connect with the truth they give. That's right. Exactly, Peter. And all the way through this, we've argued from a position of facts and data, because, I think that's the only basis for argument really, because if it's just opinion, one, man's opinion is another man's poison. But when you look at the data, like that chart you just put up, I mean... You know, and there's more and more of this coming out. I mean, if you look at excess deaths. [15:24] which we've all been talking about, it's unstoppable now. I think Germany, I put up a thing today, Germany sitting at 50 percent excess deaths. Do you know? And I mean, and I take, there's no pleasure at all in being proven right. But by the same token, there's no pleasure about, being ignored when you're trying to do the right thing and warn people. So yeah, I mean, you know, it looks, wow, it looks like something happened in 2021. In fact, actually, if you look at Germany, which is even worse, you can actually see the big spikes in excess deaths and all these events, coincide with the first jab, the second jab and the booster jab. It's clear as day. And, you know, know, I think that they're at the point now where they know this just absolute deluge of information is going to overwhelm the defences they have stuck up for the past couple of years. So at least Peter, we've been on the right side throughout this. And I just feel sorry for people who, you know, who went along, who believed the authorities. And we have to be careful not to be, you know, too sort of patronising to them. I feel bad for them, because a lot of them have woken up themselves and said, whoa, no more of this for us. Mind you, if you're in Canada and you say that, you're not getting an organ transplant. [16:44] I saw that, pure evil from Trudeau. [16:48] So that was the Daily Mail wakening up, and this is Sky News wakening up. Past COVID infection, as good as vaccines at preventing severe illness. While the research suggests that natural immunity could be just as good as vaccines are preventing serious illness from COVID-19 infection, the study's authors encourage people to still get vaccinated to avoid any complications from the initial infection. David, unpack this.   Yeah, well, you see, yeah, this is interesting, this one, Peter, because, what they're trying to say is that natural immunity is as good as anything that the vaccines give. That's what they're trying to say. But at the same time, still encourage people to take the vaccines because sky like the BBC, like all mainstream media are 100% in the pocket of the government one way or another. So that's why they're saying that. But you see, I've got an issue with, I've always got issues with these things. I've got an issue with this because I dispute the fact that natural immunity is the important thing. That's what we all have. [18:02] And it's a really good defence mechanism. But they're trying to suggest that, yeah, it's as good as anything the vaccines give you. No, it's much better because the vaccines don't give you any immunity. The vaccines weaken your immune system. They call all these adverse reactions we've just been chatting about. So even in a way, Peter, I can't accept this bit of it, where they're saying, oh, the two jabs isn't any better than having natural immunity. It's way worse. It's way worse because natural immunity, what you've got, what I've got, which a lot of people watching this will have, it's not going to give us myocarditis or Bell's palsy or cripple us or give us infertility issues. None of those things from natural immunity. But, if you take an experimental mRNA jab, then there's a very good chance you might get potentially some of those things. So, you know, yeah, again, I think it's all softness up. So natural immunity. I remember the conversations. Don't you, way back with Fauci and this one and the likes of Chris Whitty, when people did bring up the, you know, the whole thing about, well, you know, natural immunity is very strong and I remember them looking straight into the camera [19:15] and lying and say, no, no, no, no, no, the vaccines, the super duper vaccines are much better. They're, you know, and you look back in it now, and sometimes it's like we've lived through a complete nightmare. And we lived through it. And we were awake and throughout it, you know, and you look back at what they were those guys were saying, and now they're confounded by the very story you put up and that's sky running it, by the way, who were big shells for the jab. So yeah, ultimately it's just interesting to watch this, isn't it? They are big shills. The weird thing is that it talks about the studies, their 65 surveys, but they said it was partially funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I thought that was a weird comment to include in the story. [20:05] Yeah. Yeah. I wonder, is that Sky covering their backsides? Uncle Bill phones them up and says, what's this? What are you trying to put out? I don't know. It was strange. But I mean, again, it's just ultimately as we both believe and many people watching believe, truth will out and the truth is emerging all the time. And so, you know, all of a sudden, yeah, natural immunity. Oh, it's really quite good. And these vaccines, well, maybe they're not what we told you they were. Maybe they're not. And you give it six months and give it a year. And I just think this is just going to, you know, that's why they have to distract us, Peter. That's why I think with these kind of stories breaking, that's why you've got UFOs over the United States. That's where I, that's why I also think, you know, we have disappearing women near the riverbank in the United Kingdom. I think it's distraction politics. Don't look there, look over there. So they're losing, you know, Zelensky and Ukraine, they're absolutely losing to Russia. So let's not talk about that. And then the COVID truth is emerging, let's not talk about that. Well, no, let's do talk about that. And I'm not, you know, and forget their silly youthful stories, their silly spy balloons and also bizarre stories about missing women. Right. They're not again the myths that just utterly bonkers that story and being the main story and it's random. It just, yeah. [21:33] But anyway, we're enough down the rabbit hole, so let's continue. Yeah, yeah, we can go a lot further than that. We'll go there. Northern Ireland. [21:46] That we are told that it's all going to come good here. GB News reporting Rishi Sunak is saying don't worry, that major announcement coming up. But you don't really buy this. Your comment was the betrayal of Northern Ireland beckons. Yeah, of course it does. I don't believe any of that. No, no. So this is obviously with regard to the Northern Ireland protocol and the fact that the DUP, won't go back into government until essentially the border of the Irish sea is removed. And, we have Sunak and the EU in cahoots with each other. And I think he came over here, Peter, on Friday, Sunak, for a flying visit. And I think that was to try, I mean, all the pro-EU parties seem really happy about it. They're real happy about it. DUP, I think, with good [22:40] reason or asking a lot of sort of we'll have to wait to see all the details. I think what the, see my theory about all of this is that the British government and Boris Johnson, they left Northern Ireland in the single market and subject to the ECJ for a good reason and that was that by leaving, a part of the UK in those areas that that created friction. How do you solve that friction? Well, if the rest of the UK was to be closer linked to the single market and closer linked to the ECJ, then there wouldn't be a problem at all. And I do think that's the end game. I don't know, they're not going to get to it, but that's where they want to get this one. So I reckon I've been here before so often in matters Northern Ireland, they play this game, you know, will there be a deal? Won't there be a deal? Oh, it's one minute to midnight. Oh, you know, all this stuff, all it's all theatre, it's all sort of media hype. And they'll come out with something and they'll try and bounce the DUP in it if they can. And I would hope, and I've spoken to DUP friends and said to them, you know, I think you should stick to what you've said all along. Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom. We shouldn't be treated any differently, no better, but no worse. We shouldn't have borders between us and the rest of our, you know, our fellow British citizens. And so if Sunak [24:06] can't respect that, then we should with all due respect tell the Prime Minister to go and do one because we're not interested. And it looks like there is some Brexiteer resistance within the, Conservative Party still that is similarly inclined to that mindset. So in other words, you know, Prime Minister, treat this part of the UK like everywhere else. Don't try and do [24:28] You know, sort of dodgy deals with the European Union. But yet I think he will try and do a dodgy deal with the European Union. [24:36] Well, what are your thoughts, because obviously following Northern Ireland politics, being, Northern Irish, but watching it from afar over here in London, Jeffrey Donaldson seems to be someone who is invisible. I mean, Arlene Foster was always out there on the media. And my perception is the DUP are completely silent, that they may be very vocal in Northern Ireland, but actually the message doesn't seem to be getting out there. Is that a fair assessment? [25:11] Well, they've got no media friends, you see, that's the problem. So if you take to the local media, the Northern Irish media, I mean, the only time the DUP has come on is to be beaten up. I have sympathies for the DUP. Like for example, like last, I mean here's a small example of the, utter cynicism of the media and the politicians towards the DUP. So they tried to push through a law called Dáithí's Law last week, Dáithí's Law, named after a little six-year-old boy who needed organ transplant. And this law would basically, if it was enabled in Northern Ireland, mean that [25:52] just like the rest of the UK, you would be automatically, the government would have first dabs to your body if you die. At the moment, we've got the much better position where we're naturally opted out, we have to opt in. So that's how it should be. Because there's no way the government should be able to claim that, which it does in England, Scotland and Wales. So that's a position. And what this law would do is bring us in line with the rest of the UK. And of course, it plays on the heartstrings, little boys, you know, they're going to die if they don't get the organ transplant. And the only way that can happen is if the DUP go back into the assembly, appoint a speaker and then enact the law. So to be fair to the DUP, they stood against that bit of emotional blackmail this week. So although Peter they're silent in media terms, [26:46] there's a relative strength still there. And I think electorally, they don't fear an election, unlike the conservatives. So there's good reason for them, hopefully not to cave. But like all political parties, you know this from yourself, there's a spectrum of opinion within each party. So there'll be some people in the DUP saying, well, maybe if it's not too bad a deal, we should go that way. But I think the fear of them then being seen to have compromised and sold out would mean that they'd be punished in the May council elections. So I think the DUP will probably dismiss whatever it is Rishi Sunak and the European Union have, plans. But it does tell you plenty that Sunak's in league with the EU. What more can I say?   You mentioned the story and I read that story and how it came across to me over here was that because an agreement has not been reached, obviously no one can get any transplants anymore, so the whole health system must have stopped. And that's how you get all these people dying because they can't get any transplants. So now you've explained, actually I completely understand. [28:00] What the truth is, but it shows how the media spin it. Well, it absolutely does. I mean, this is the same media that was spinning because of the energy hikes and the government brought out £600 payments to help alleviate. People were saying, oh, unless the assemblies, Northern Ireland Stormont Assembly is put, back in place, no one's going to get anything. We got it all before anyone else in the UK. This is why I'm a great advocate for not having government. I've learned that by not having a functioning government here, things get done better and faster and without the same sort of political grandstanding and all the rest of it. So my sincere hope is that the the assembly is not restored and we continue in Limbo. It's great. [28:44] Now one politician you do like, we all like and miss is this man here, Mr. Donald Trump. This was a, I hadn't actually seen the statement until I saw it on your Twitter page and it, is beautiful. Let me just read this is the statement on, I was going to say the death of Nicola Sturgeon, resignation of Nicola Sturgeon. And Trump says, good riddance to failed, woke, extremist, Nicola Sturgeon of Scotland. This crazed leftist symbol. Oh, it is absolutely beautiful. And this is what we are missing. Trump actually causing chaos in the White House. It's superb. It was the best bet. The whole thing about her resignation. This was the best. But this is the language, this is what makes people love Trump, I think. It certainly makes us love Trump because he absolutely didn't hold back at all. And he mentions, I mean, he's aware of the gender recognition reform, but he's aware of all of that stuff. I thought it was brilliant, Peter. Beautiful, as you say. Absolutely fantastic. And you compare that actually how Trump responded to her resignation to how Rishi Sunak responded saying, Oh, we would like to thank her for her service, blah, blah, blah. [30:09] I thought, you know, there was Trump. I mean, the only thing is he did bring up his golf course. I mean, he can't help these things, can he? Leave your golf, leave your golf course out of it. [30:19] I appreciate probably the SNP weren't helpful to him, but please. There's a difference. But it was otherwise 100 percent brilliant. And that's what we we missed. Those mean tweets. It's about time Donald Trump got himself onto Twitter, because if he's going to get elected, he needs that audience. I agree. He needs to be everywhere as you and I are. So moving on to continuing the politics line, a piece of good news. And I think last week when I had Lewis Brackpool on, I think we just touched on this, mentioned this because it had just come out, but it's all come out now. And this is, you've interviewed her before David. Catholic woman prosecuted for silently praying outside abortion clinic is cleared after arrest by police sparked fury among supporters who condemned thought crime. It's also very good news, but it doesn't really clear up what actually are people's rights or not. But tell us about this because you've spoken to her, you've had Victoria or Isabel on.   Isabel, yeah, yeah. I had Isabel on for a chat there. The thing is, the background is pretty obvious. Was arrested for praying in the vicinity of an abortion clinic, silently. [31:40] And the very fact that that can happen in the UK should cause everyone great concern, you know. And when I spoke with Isabel, I mean, she knew that she was going to be taken to court this month, and they've dropped the case. Because they obviously decided on the balance of evidence that they probably couldn't get her on it. But I'm relieved about that because although having said that, as I did say to her at the time, When she was interviewed by the police and the policeman said to her, are you praying? Do you remember that? And she said, I might be. I might be. And on the basis of her saying, I might be, that's when the arrest was made. Now that's probably illegitimate. Had she said, yes, I was praying, then on the basis of the restriction order, because restriction order does actually say you're not allowed to do anything that could be perceived. So listen, it's a good news story. Let's not take it. I'm so happy for Isabel. I'm sure it's a lot of relief from her. But these kind of orders that they are definitely experimenting with, and maybe this one, they didn't get this one away, but there'll be somebody else and it'll be someone, innocuous, someone like Isabel who's a really decent person, a prayerful person, someone who, [33:04] you know, you couldn't fault the thing that she said. When I did the stream with her, I mean, the response from my viewers, Peter, was universally, this is such a courageous, brave, lady, but why is she being, why is she being, why was she arrested and why is she being prosecuted? And a lot of people outside the UK can't believe that it could happen, but it did. And we need to make sure that, you know, things like this don't reoccur. But ultimately, I'm happy that it's a good result for Isabel. But I hope other people could do it. Like if someone wanted to go and do pray outside an abortion clinic tomorrow, what would happen? And I guess, you know, I don't know. [33:43] It all points back to the politicization of her place and how the police operate in the country. And I think that's a big problem still.   No, it is, it is. And of course all this happening under conservative government, as I do always like to point out, so much for that. And this is, again, this isn't a story about, pro-life or pro-choice, it's a story about freedom of speech and the right to stand on a corner and to pray. So it is about those fundamental freedoms and it's not necessarily about the whole abortion debate. [34:17] It's really exactly, it's not about the abortion debate at all really. I mean if people want to have a silent prayer in the vicinity of, and we talked about this at the time, it's such an, incredibly stupid law. I can't believe that they conceived of this and that councils and whatnot are using it to create these situations around different places, you know. But yeah, it's just and saying, I mean, you mentioned the fact that it's happening under a conservative, government. No, it's not because this isn't a conservative government. These bunch of imposters in the conservative party, almost unilaterally, not maybe all of them, but almost unilaterally, are fake conservatives. I mean, they haven't conservative bone in their body. They don't care about free speech. They don't care about all the things which I reckon that all the patriotic people who would have in times gone by, sort of, were the Conservative Party, believing. They don't care about any of those things. It's all about power, it's all about [35:20] control, it's all about stamping down on free speech. And, you know, so, yeah, so they're not, I just wanted to correct you, they're not really conservatives, they're imposter conservatives. Conservative in name only.   In name only. Cheetos, yeah. Cheetos Peter, yeah. So let's go, you touched on the balloon UFOs, let's touch because there have been new revelations David. And the new revelation is, according to The Sun, that the Chinese spy balloon shot over Alaska last week may have belonged to US amateur ballooning group. I mean this just changes the whole story.   I know, it's clown world. It's absolute clown world. I think with the release of the Epstein papers, which we've now seen all the details on, I, think having narratives like this, which did dominate the media, I mean, it was amazing. And then here we go, Peter, as you say, you've got it up on the screen there. It may have belonged to the US amateur ballooning group. So you know, what he sent up, what was it? [36:24] I can't remember what the aircraft was.   It was an F-22 they sent up, a very expensive trip, a very expensive trip actually. To shoot down a 32-inch balloon. So just a small balloon. [36:40] Yeah, as I pointed out, the real balloon problem is in the White House. It's not up in the 40,000 feet or whatever these balloons were. But yeah, you had all this madness going on in the past week or so, and all these objects being shot down, as you say, at extreme expense. And the White House even initially saying, well, we don't know about the balloons. We don't know where these objects, where they come from. ET phone home. And so they were almost going with the, it could be extra-terrestrial story. And then because that was so ludicrous, then they started to back away from that. And then it was China, China, China. But actually, Peter, what's interesting is back in 2017, 2018, the US was boasting about the fact that it was trialling, [37:30] I don't understand this balloons. I mean, are we going back in time? I mean, do you know what I mean? We got satellites. What do we want balloons for? They were doing balloons as well. So, I mean, it doesn't surprise me that this could be a US balloon. [37:46] I don't know why the Chinese would be wanting to use that kind of tech. But then other people have said, oh, the one that was shot down over the Atlantic, you know, when it got the one that was spotted over Montana by a farmer, how come Norad or how come no US intelligence services were able to tell us about it, but a farmer was able to spot it and make its way all across the, states before being shot down. Some people have said, well, it actually had anti-gravity. I mean, what do you believe? It could go to Mach 5 and have anti-gravity. And I'm thinking, well, if it could do that, how come they shot it down? So I don't know. Look, anything coming out, of the white house, your best advice is just don't believe it. [38:35] I mean, Mach 5, that would be what, three and a half thousand miles an hour. That's the fastest balloon. I don't know if balloons can travel three and a half thousand miles an hour. [38:46] Yeah. I mean, I'll tell you that Phileas Fogg would be envious. He'd be around the world in 80 minutes, never mind 80 days if he was doing that kind of speed. But we still don't really know exactly what went on other than its distraction politics and that's honestly what I really think this whole story was about. It was so bizarre the media all jumped on it Peter as you know over here Rishi Sunak declared that oh yeah there's any of those balloons over the UK I'll not hesitate to send up the, well whatever we've got left of the RAF to shoot them down so I mean your guess is as good as mine what it actually was. But it definitely was a distraction. [39:33] It was. If this was a 32 inch balloon, hobbyist balloon, then it was not the massive thing. But I'll just give you a... So an F-22 being a plane buff, the F-22 Rapture, it actually is around $85,000 per hour to fly it. So that's all it costs. It's a very expensive trip to shut down a hobbyist balloon. That's the first. But I saw a CNN story and the CNN story was they had secretly got into China and secretly gone to somewhere 300 miles away from Beijing to a secret air base and it was making these, balloons and there were all these big... This was a massive investigation by CNN. What? Yeah, it doesn't add up.   Yeah, listen, that's why nobody watches CNN. CNN is a stealth news channel. It doesn't actually have any viewers. It puts out this garbage, probably again to try and prop up the White House fantasy about this here. [40:46] Honestly, I would have thought that China has the technology if it wants to spy. I mean, look, for goodness sake, how many Americans have got TikTok on their phone? If you want to spy, if that's your thing, and I'm sure the Chinese do it, but I'm sure the Americans do it too. If they want to spy, you can do it through a mobile phone. You don't need to put balloons, but I do find the balloon just on the tech side of things. So we're going back. I mean, what next? Pigeons, are we gonna have spy pigeons, that have little cameras attached to them and they've been trained to fly over US military bases, shoot down the pigeons, spot the pigeon, those of a certain age will remember that. Wonderful cartoons, spot the pigeon. So yeah, it's all mad, it's insanity. Again, that's the times in which we live.   Don't give Biden any ideas. He'll be releasing the pigeons. [41:37] This is a story which actually is about two and a half weeks old, but you read posts and I think it's, I don't know if I covered it, so it's good to highlight what is happening. And there's a bit and I didn't realize. And this is log burner rule change in England, could land users with £300 fine. And actually you scroll down and it says that households in England, you're safe over there in Northern Ireland, you can emit your five grams of smoke per hour. But households in England could face fines up to £300 and even criminal records. So, a criminal record. So you've got all these illegal immigrants coming in, you've got all the grooming gangs, and yet the focus from the government is that you can't emit more than three grams of smoke per hour. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, how much hot air does the government emit per hour? This is ridiculous. English people have been burning wood, Peter, since time immemorial. I mean, and these wooden, these burners like that in the picture there that you've got above there in the story. I mean, lots of people have got these. My sister has these in, one of these in her house. And [42:59] people, if anything, were actually encouraged to get these. And now, as you say, you could end up, with a criminal record because you're burning logs in your home to keep warm. And of course, I wonder is this because they want to squeeze us in energy so you can't afford your gas if you're using gas or if you're using oil, you can't afford your oil. So what we're going to do is we're going to just corner off the wood. Don't think you'll go into the forest and forage wood and then use that no no no because we're going to be tracking your smoke emissions and if, they're above X amount as you say then that's a fine. We'll empower the local council to you know to have a never mind a traffic warden, a smoke warden, someone who will go around checking for you know tell-tale signs, coming from your chimney or whatever and yeah slap you with a fine and maybe you could end up with a criminal record because you want to stay warm? [44:01] Are you kidding me? But anyway, yeah, I thought that was, you know, it's another one of these ones, it's England, so it's not here for me. But undoubtedly, you know, when these lunatics get these ideas, they spread out like 15 minute cities. Same idea. Yeah, there was another one on Net Zero and I didn't include although I meant to, which was a post you put up about the cost of breakfasts and talked about a cost of 22% and anyone who goes to buy butter or eggs or milk knows the crazy cost. And I guess we're told that's how we're winning this war. how we're beating Russia by actually meaning we can no longer afford to buy food, butter literally has doubled in the last year as of eggs. And it just, again, I don't think it's us that are winning. Talking to Callum on Thursday and he's just back from his Russia trip. So it seems a Russia winning and not us. Yeah, take that Putin. doubling our inflation, we're going to make it impossible to have, as you say, eggs and [45:11] butter and milk and all these staple foods. And this is why you see that my argument in this as well is that the inflation figures that they play around with are so deceptive. Ordinary people know that [45:26] If they go to, yeah, look, you go to the supermarket, you do your grocery shop, that's when you know what real inflation is. And there you have Peter, you've put it up on the screen, I can see, you know, all these things. Look at the double digit inflation way, way up, 20 plus percent and above. And that's all inflicted on British families by the government's insane sanctions against Putin, which have had this kind of blowback. And we're paying it. And Callum's right. I just put out Russian exports have gone up. Russian imports have gone down. Their economy is much more balanced. [46:11] Specifically Europe, Western Europe, it's committing economic hari-kari to, well, not really to teach Putin a lesson because Putin's happy, I would have thought he sees the state that we're all in. But I feel bad for people who, you know, on fixed income, say pensioners, who have to go to the supermarket. And you mentioned butter there. Like, where are they going to find all that extra money from? Not from their pensions. So where? Well, they don't. So what they do is they scrape and save and they try and make do with less. And that's where my anger against the government comes from. I think of the people, disadvantaged people, the people on fixed incomes, the elderly people, and they live in the real world. You go to the supermarket, Peter, like you have to get your food. And at the same time, they're being hit by huge heating bills. And this is all to teach Putin a lesson. I mean, the only lesson is we should never have gone along with sanctions against Russia. Absolute stupidity but then there's a globalist agenda in place there as we all know. [47:18] But we're all suffering, but of course I'm so glad that Rishi Sunak doesn't have to suffer because I'm sure he doesn't worry if bread's gone up from 80p to £1.50. I'm sure it doesn't really take a dent in his budget. Well if you're married to a billionairess, it probably is something you're going to be able to cope with, you know. But yeah, exactly. I mean, this shows you the detachment of [47:41] a lot of the politicians from ordinary working families, or indeed retired families, either which way. It shows you that they cannot appreciate what must be going through many ordinary people's, household budgets. Like how the hell do we cope with this? How do I feed my kids? How do I do this, that and the other? Because as you showed there, Peter, those are real price increases. So whenever, the BBC tells us, oh, good news, the ONS said inflation is down to 10.1%. Do me a favour. No, we're not buying that. That's another thing we're not buying. We know that on things that really matter to people like food, it's double digit all the way up 20, 30%. And that's not likely to go down anytime soon. Because remember, energy costs and food manufacturing is a big, element of the final bill. So that's why businesses reflect a lot of this in the end price. They have to or they go bust. And they're not being given the level of subsidy, by the way, that they need. So I just think this will stay here for a good bit of, you know, maybe the rest of this year. [48:48] Well, it's good that there wasn't a fixed income. Maybe pensioners will be helping the war by dying of hunger or will die by freezing. That all helps Rishi Sunak. Yeah. The rest of them. It's very noble of them. Yeah. A sacrifice which Rishi wants them to do.   So, onto the NHS. A friend of mine actually didn't, we talked and he was going to go and see the doctor and didn't go because of his concern that he would be forced to have a jab. And if you're maybe older or less mobile, that is a concern. But this is the other concern that you go and this thing appears in front of you. Now that is some mug shot. Oh, that is some mugshot. And this is John Harrell Trans NHS. Just wanted to say how lovely all my colleagues have been in treating me just as one of the, girls. These people used to get help. [49:47] They did and they still need help, but they're not getting it. Instead they're being indulged. I mean, look at this. Just read the rest of that out for everyone there, Peter. So in treating me just one of the girls in my new NHS post, interesting time with one young female patient who wanted to be treated by a female and I felt I need to explain I was a trans female. She's just said, that is fine. You're female. And he wanted a female nurse to treat me. Yeah, things that never happened. Does anyone actually believe that? If I was in an NHS bed and something like that came towards me, honestly, I would be right out of that bed, out of that ward and away down the road. There's no way. But yeah, I mean, NHS trans nurse. And by the way, she says to that, she's got a new NHS post. So this is our wonderful NHS in action, putting people who I would say have got some form of, at least I'll be polite, cognitive dissonance, to put it politely, or mental issues in some regards, it shouldn't be [50:59] treating people, Peter. They should be being treated, I think. But hey, what can you say? That's the NHS. It's good to know what the NHS priorities are, trans nurses. Well worth your taxes.   But David, it is good that you obviously commented if that... thing came along then suddenly it feels much better. Actually it does help with the healing process. It does, it picks it up. Honestly if I was a death door and I seen that angel of death coming towards me I would be gone. So as you say, maybe it's a miracle cure they're going to introduce one of those in every NHS ward and watch those bed occupancy rates go down through the floor as, As everyone legs it. [51:45] David, let's just want to face off for the clip you put up. And the weird thing, this is this is the really weird thing. [51:54] I was looking at this this afternoon and I thought, did I look at this because David tweeted it? I know because you tweeted three hours ago. So I was looking at it completely differently, having a little chuckle. And that is a Monty Python sketch. Oh, yeah. I just thought I would play it as we finish because it is good to end on humour. I'm a little bit confused why I was looking at that as you were as well separately. [52:24] So let's just play this. I think there's a longer for this is just one minute. I'll play this in 60 seconds. But I'll play this. [52:36] Give me a moment. [52:39] I want to be a woman. From now on, I want you all to call me Loretta. What? [52:46] It's my right as a man. Well, why'd you want to be Loretta, Stan? [52:53] I want to have babies. You want to have babies? It's every man's right to have babies if he wants them. But you can't have babies. Don't you oppress me. I'm not oppressing you, Stan. You haven't got a womb. [53:07] Where's the foetus going to gestate? You going to keep it in a box? [53:14] Here, I've got an idea. Suppose you agree that he can't actually have babies, not having a womb, which is nobody's fault, not even the Romans. [53:23] But that he can have the right to have babies. [53:26] Good idea, Judith. We shall fight the oppressors for your right to have babies, brother. Sister, sorry. What's the point? [53:34] What? What's the point of fighting for his right to have babies when he can't have babies? [53:41] It is symbolic of our struggle against oppression. Symbolic of his struggle against reality. Symbolic of his struggle against reality. Great line. Yeah, yeah. We're not going to top that one, Peter. That is the first line. [53:58] No. Yeah, but yeah, that came up on my TikTok, actually. That's where I saw that one. Because I like comedy stuff too, you know. And wasn't that prophetic though? the Pythons did that. So that's from obviously the life of Brian, which came out in 1981, or maybe 79. 79, yeah. Yeah, 79. And I remember going to see that movie way back then, you know, as a child. And it was really, you know, it was really funny and people thought, well, you would never actually have conversations like that. And then 2023, you talked about the trans nurse, you know, and you realize that we are living in a post-Monty Python world whereby the surreal is now being made. We have to believe that it's real. But the payoff from John Cleese is excellent. It's symbolic of his struggle against reality.   Let me put just some comment at the end on GETTR, Tommy AU, you, Canadian mom 1997, Huckle3229 Hisalways Vicky and more. Thank you for tuning in David. Thank you for joining us as always. No, my absolute pleasure. I was having a good laugh. I do think Peter in times of darkness, [55:19] and you know, pressures in all kinds of ways, it's healthy for us to all to laugh, to laugh at the oppressors, to laugh at the tyrants, to laugh at all of this madness. I think it keeps us sane. So I think this has been good for my mental health as well. So thank you for the opportunity and thanks for all the viewers. I recognise a lot of those names. Thank you folks for being here with, Peter as well. I make sure you support Peter by and also make sure you see me on Monday night in in my study at 8 p.m. When we're gonna be talking actually, Peter, with a lovely lady that you and I both met three weeks ago, Charlotte.   Ah, Charlotte, yes.   Because in Countess of Burnley she... [56:05] Baroness of Burnley.   Baroness of Burnley, yeah. Yeah, Charlotte's coming on for an hour of giggles on Monday night, so we'll keep the humour motif going I think for as long as we can.   She's good fun. The viewers will enjoy it. So you can watch either, you can watch that live and then flick over to Hearts of Oak or vice versa, whichever you so wish. So everything is there. But David, thanks for coming on. Thank you so much. Thanks, Peter.   And thank you to all our viewers. Or if you're downloading this listening on the go as a podcast on Podbean or any of the podcasting apps. Thank you so much for listening. And we'll be back with you on Monday with John Waters looking at what's happening in Ireland with the immigration invasion, which one in four hotels are now booked up by immigrants. So it's lovely hospitality has now gone out of control and destroying the country. So tune in for that on Monday. Do you know Peter, Peter, just popping in. I was down in Dublin myself just about a week ago. And did you get a free hotel as well? Well, I was going to say, I was trying, there's a couple of what I would call business hotels where people meet up for coffees and have a chat. [57:22] They're all closed. They are closed and they're only open. They're, they're, they're for essentially, um, well, yeah, the, uh, the immigrants. So it's amazing what's happening. So that should be a great chat with John on Monday night. Look forward to that. And then Charlotte with David also on Monday. So I wish you, our viewers, listeners, wonderful rest of your Saturday. Good weekend. And we'll see you on Monday.  

Northern Ireland is come into existence on the the 3rd of May 1921 and Ireland as it was to that point, is partitioned. Most of the island became the Irish Free State but Northern Ireland continued to be a part of the United Kingdom. Lee Reynolds, a former advisor to Arlene Foster, a former Director of Policy for the DUP, and the Northern Ireland Director for the Vote Leave campaign, is the expert witness making the case for the Union. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonny Dymond presents political debate and discussion from Ringwood School in Hampshire.

Join Jennifer Juan as she takes you through another wild week of UK Politics, including non stop nonsense from the Conservative party leadership candidates, Brexit and BBC related gossip from a top journalist, former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and former Northern Irish first minister Arlene Foster going on a tour that literally nobody asked for and absolute chaos on the railways. Jennifer also discusses sewage in the sea, sex at the Tory party conference and the continuing cost of living crisis. - Get more information on Monkeypox: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/monkeypox/ https://www.tht.org.uk/news/monkeypox-uk https://www.england.nhs.uk/2022/07/accelerated-monkeypox-vaccination-rollout-in-london-as-ukhsa-secure-more-vaccines/ https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/immunisation/vaccines/vaccination-to-help-protect-against-monkeypox - Support women's healthcare in the US: https://abortionfunds.org/funds/ - Support the people of Ukraine: https://donation.dec.org.uk/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal - Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wtafpolitics/message - Join Jennifer on Discord here: https://discord.gg/feYmNudBqn - Support the show by buying Jennifer a coffee on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/missjsquared - You can also support the show by subscribing to Jennifer's Patreon, for extra content and free merch: https://www.patreon.com/missjsquared Get in touch with the show by emailing us on wtafpolitics@outlook.com - Follow the show on Instagram at http://instagram.com/wtafpolitics - Visit our website at http://wtaf.politics.blog - Follow Jennifer On Twitch: https://twitch.tv/missjsquared - Follow Jennifer Juan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missjsquared/ - Follow Jennifer Juan on Rizzle: rizzle.tv/u/missjsquared - Visit Jennifer Juan's Website: https://jenniferjuan.com

Join Jennifer Juan as she takes you through another wild week of UK Politics, including non stop nonsense from the Conservative party leadership candidates, Brexit and BBC related gossip from a top journalist, former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and former Northern Irish first minister Arlene Foster going on a tour that literally nobody asked for and absolute chaos on the railways. Jennifer also discusses sewage in the sea, sex at the Tory party conference and the continuing cost of living crisis. - Get more information on Monkeypox: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/monkeypox/ https://www.tht.org.uk/news/monkeypox-uk https://www.england.nhs.uk/2022/07/accelerated-monkeypox-vaccination-rollout-in-london-as-ukhsa-secure-more-vaccines/ https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/immunisation/vaccines/vaccination-to-help-protect-against-monkeypox - Support women's healthcare in the US: https://abortionfunds.org/funds/ - Support the people of Ukraine: https://donation.dec.org.uk/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal - Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wtafpolitics/message - Join Jennifer on Discord here: https://discord.gg/feYmNudBqn - Support the show by buying Jennifer a coffee on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/missjsquared - You can also support the show by subscribing to Jennifer's Patreon, for extra content and free merch: https://www.patreon.com/missjsquared Get in touch with the show by emailing us on wtafpolitics@outlook.com - Follow the show on Instagram at http://instagram.com/wtafpolitics - Visit our website at http://wtaf.politics.blog - Follow Jennifer On Twitch: https://twitch.tv/missjsquared - Follow Jennifer Juan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missjsquared/ - Follow Jennifer Juan on Rizzle: rizzle.tv/u/missjsquared - Visit Jennifer Juan's Website: https://jenniferjuan.com

Un scrutin « historique » : le terme n'est pas galvaudé, pour la première fois en un siècle, le Sinn Féin est arrivé en tête des élections. Mais les unionistes du DUP refusent pour l'instant de partager le pouvoir comme l'imposent les institutions et bloquent la formation d'un gouvernement, tant que les contrôles douaniers imposés par le Brexit seront maintenus. Le Sinn Féin l'a emporté à l'issue d'une campagne efficace portée par la cheffe du parti, Michelle O'Neill. Celle qui incarne, à l'instar de Mary Lou McDonald en République d'Irlande, un nouveau visage du républicanisme devrait devenir Première ministre, dès lors qu'un gouvernement pourra être mis en place. La victoire est savoureuse à plus d'un titre, elle consacre une action politique reconnue, mais aussi un combat personnel : Michelle O'Neill est née dans une famille républicaine du comté de Cork qui l'a toujours soutenue, mais devenue mère à 16 ans dans une société ultra conservatrice, elle a dû se battre pour pouvoir faire des études, puis une carrière. Une expérience qui l'a déterminée à ne pas se laisser « rayer de la carte » comme elle l'a confié lors d'une interview.    Fille d'un père militant de l'IRA qui a séjourné en prison, cousine d'un combattant tué par les forces britanniques, et nièce d'un dirigeant de Noraid, organisation républicaine irlandaise aux États-Unis, Michelle O'Neill a l'ADN républicain. Mais contrairement à ses prédécesseurs à la tête du parti, elle n'a pas de liens directs avec l'Armée républicaine irlandaise. Air de renouveau « Elle est perçue comme une républicaine “nouvelle génération” », explique Katy Hayward, professeure de sociologie politique à la Queen University de Belfast.« Elle a commencé au Sinn Féin après l'accord du Vendredi Saint. C'est la génération qui a bénéficié de cette paix nouvelle, qui est engagée en faveur de l'unité de l'Irlande, mais sur la base du consensus, et qui en attendant accepte de partager le pouvoir avec les unionistes ». Elle « coche un peu les deux cases », renchérit Agnès Maillot, professeure à la City University de Dublin. « Elle est à la fois crédible pour le bastion traditionaliste le plus militant de son parti et pour ceux qui sont plus éloignés des problématiques du conflit et du processus de paix et qui veulent regarder plus vers avenir que passé ».    En 2020, elle a suscité une polémique en participant pendant le confinement aux obsèques d'un ancien combattant de l'IRA. Et certains détracteurs la soupçonnent de n'être qu'une porte-voix « présentable » du parti, sans autonomie. « Il y a dans cette analyse une bonne part de sexisme, réfute Katy Hayward, mais aussi de la méfiance envers l'organisation du parti, qui est très verrouillé et centralisé. En 2017, lorsque John O'Dowd, un dirigeant très réputé et respecté du Sinn Féin, a essayé de lui ravir le poste de numéro 2, Michelle O'Neill l'a nettement remporté dans les urnes. Un air de renouveau a soufflé ; les jeunes et les femmes en particulier ont confiance dans son action politique. »   ► À lire aussi : Irlande du Nord: les unionistes bloquent la constitution du nouveau gouvernement Ministre pour tous  À 43 ans, Michelle O'Neill peut déjà se prévaloir d'une solide expérience : en 2005, elle succède à son père au conseil municipal de Dungannon. Remarquée par le vice-premier ministre Martin Mc Guinness elle devient ministre de l'Agriculture en 2011, puis ministre de la Santé. Puis enfin vice-Première ministre. Elle succède à son mentor à la tête du parti lorsqu'il démissionne peu avant de décéder en 2017. Avec Mary Lou McDonald, cheffe du parti en République d'Irlande, Michelle O'Neill portera le cercueil de Mc Guinness – image forte du renouveau du Sinn Féin. Depuis, « elle a dû faire face à pas mal de difficultés, notamment à la pandémie de Covid explique Katy Hayward. Elle l'a géré en collaboration avec Arlene Foster, puis Paul Givan du DUP, avec un pragmatisme qui a toujours caractérisé son action politique ». Les deux femmes ont souvent donné l'impression de bien s'entendre, relève également Agnès Maillot. Et pendant la campagne électorale, le Sinn Féin a relégué la question de la réunification loin derrière celles des problèmes du quotidien : les Nord-Irlandais souffrent d'un pouvoir d'achat en chute libre, de services de santé défaillants et de problèmes de logement. C'est à ces problèmes qu'au lendemain des élections, Michelle O'Neill promettait de s'attaquer en étant une Première ministre « pour tous ».   ► À lire aussi : En Irlande du Nord, le Sinn Fein promet une «nouvelle ère» avec sa victoire à l'Assemblée locale Approche prudente de la réunification La réunification n'est pas à l'ordre du jour pour l'instant, estime-t-elle, « le dialogue sur le sujet existe déjà et il continuera », expliquait-elle au lendemain du scrutin.  « Ceux d'entre nous qui sont pour la réunification défendront leur point de vue, mais j'encourage ceux qui ne le partagent pas –  ou pas pour l'instant – à se joindre au dialogue. Je souhaite que nous ayons un débat constructif au sujet de notre avenir, pour qu'il soit le meilleur possible pour chacun et chacune d'entre nous ».  Cette approche prudente de la réunification fait écho à l'autre grand événement du scrutin. Le parti Alliance, « non aligné », a doublé son score. Il réunit les Nord-Irlandais, de plus en plus nombreux, qui ne souhaitent réduire l'équation politique à la question d'appartenance nationale. Le Sinn Féin est conscient de l'enjeu, estime Katy Hayward. Le DUP également, mais pour l'instant, c'est la paralysie qui guette l'Irlande du Nord. Les institutions imposent le partage du pouvoir et le DUP a annoncé qu'il s'y refusait tant que le protocole nord-Irlandais imposé par le Brexit n'était pas supprimé. Cette sorte de frontière maritime entre l'Irlande du Nord et le Royaume-Uni révolte les unionistes. Et malgré l'appel au dialogue de Michelle O'Neill, la victoire du Sinn Féin aux élections n'est pas faite pour les rassurer.  ► À écouter aussi : L'Irlande est-elle sur la voie de la réunification?

Suzanne Breen, political editor of the Belfast Telegraph; Brian Feeney, author and former SDLP councillor; Lee Reynolds, special advisor to Arlene Foster when she was first minister and Stephen Farry MP, Alliance Party of Northern Ireland.

Arlene Foster is the former first minister of Northern Ireland and was the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party from 2015 to 2021. She was the first woman to hold either position. Arlene moved into politics after joining the Ulster Unionist Party as a Law student at Queen's University Belfast.  Having grown up in conflict during the Troubles, she remembers an attempted murder of her father by the IRA. During her long career in politics, Arlene has consistently fought for the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She resigned from her positions in politics to become a broadcaster and campaigner where she host a weekly show on GB News. During the podcast, Arelene reflects on her long career in politics, the Brexit negotiations as part of Theresa May's coalition government and Article 16

Arlene Foster is the former first minister of Northern Ireland and was leader of the Democratic Unionist Party from 2015 to 2021. She was the first woman to hold either position. Arlene moved into politics after joining the Ulster Unionist Party as a Law student at Queen's University Belfast.  Having grown up in conflict during the Troubles, she remembers an attempted murder of her father by the IRA. During her long career in politics, Arlene has consistently fought for the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She resigned from her positions in politics to become a broadcaster and campaigner where she host a weekly show on GB News. During the podcast, Arelene reflects on her long career in politics, the Brexit negotiations as part of Theresa May's coalition government and Article 16.

Joining Mark on this episode of #LiveWithLittlewood : Arlene Foster, Former First Minister of Northern Ireland Victoria Hewson, Head of Regulatory Affairs, IEA Henry Hill, News Editor, Conservative Home Dr Jamie Whyte, Author They'll be discussing... Frosty relations: What next for the Northern Ireland Protocol? Supply chain schadenfreude: Will our current difficulties soon plague the EU? Foot off the gas: What's the solution to our energy woes? The "worst public health failure": How do we avoid repeating mistakes of Covid past? Support the IEA on Patreon, where we give you the opportunity to directly help us continue producing stimulating and educational online content, whilst subscribing to exclusive IEA perks, benefits and priority access to our content https://patreon.com/iealondon   FOLLOW US: TWITTER - https://twitter.com/iealondon​​ INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/ieauk/​​ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/ieauk​​ WEBSITE - https://iea.org.uk/

Are you listening Jeffrey?Unionism, especially its DUP component, has been talking up unionist and loyalist resistance to the Irish Protocol since before Boris Johnson dirty-joed them, broke his commitments to them, negotiated and then signed up to the Protocol.There is some evidence of this in the loyalist street disturbances earlier this year and the sacking of Arlene Foster and of Edwin Poots. The dramatic decline in the polling fortunes of the DUP, as it flounders about trying to assert its former role as the undisputed leader of unionism, is also linked to its stance on Brexit and its transparent efforts to blame everyone else for a debacle they helped create.Reclaiming the EnlightenmentThe best kind of history is that which successfully brings the stories of our past to life. Recently I had the good fortune to buy three little books that do exactly that from An Fhuiseog on the Falls Road, beside Sevastopol Street. The three are Mary Ann McCracken 1770-1866 – Feminist, Revolutionary and Reformer; The United Irishmen and the Men of no Property, The Sans Culottes of Belfast; and Cave Hill and the United Irishmen.Together they give a wonderful insight into the lives and working experience of those in the Belfast region who helped shape the United Irish Society of the late 18th century. They are all written by John Gray who is the former Librarian of Belfast's Linen Hall Library. John Gray has written and lectured on “many aspects of Ulster's Labour and radical history.”  The pamphlets are written under the auspices of ‘Reclaim the Enlightenment' which “is committed to recalling and celebrating that progressive era in Belfast's past. We are convinced that doing so can lend inspiration in the present.”

Boris Johnson, Theresa May and David Cameron must accept part of the responsibility for the continuing “gridlock” of politics in Northern Ireland, through their failure to engage in the political process here, argues former Labour secretary of state Peter Hain. He also allocates blame to Conservative secretaries of state, with the exception of Julian Smith. Hain says that prime ministers must recognise that their role includes strong engagement with the Northern Ireland parties, in order to keep political progress on track. “You have to be hands-on,” he says of the PMs and secretaries of state. “I think David Cameron and his successors made a basic error in thinking that the job was done when they took office in 2010. And he did not - nor did Theresa May and certainly not Boris Johnson - have the constant focus that Northern Ireland needs, building relationships with all the key political leaders and others, and being there – not on a fly in, fly out basis, or the odd Zoom call for half an hour here and there – but actually constantly engaged.” He adds that the “unravelling of Stormont” and the crisis over the Northern Ireland Protocol have been the “result” of what he terms the “neglect” by those prime ministers and their secretaries of state. He adds that the UK government must act as the “honest broker” when it comes to Northern Ireland, “but that hasn't been the case” because of the Conservatives' relationship with unionism, especially the DUP. “The government aligned itself with one side of the divide,” he continues. Hain is equally critical of the DUP, and especially the leadership of Arlene Foster, in not moving society and politics forward in recent years. “She didn't seem to have the ability, or self-confidence, or the leadership calibre to actually lead from the front, and not always do her party's bidding in a kind of lapdog fashion.” He adds that Northern Ireland's politics require leaders who will “lead from the front”, and believes that Jeffrey Donaldson may have that skill and capacity. Hain hopes that Jeffrey Donaldson will prove to be a leader who can take the political process forward, rather than backwards. He calls on the DUP to see Sinn Fein as partners in government, “rather than the devil incarnate”. It is possible to work together, without the two parties liking each other, he stresses. “Northern Ireland's political leaders have to decide if they are focused on the future, or trapped by the past,” says Hain. In the interview he also discusses how to make cross-party progress on the reform of the health and education systems, and the role of citizens' assemblies in creating a strong voice for civic society in Northern Ireland. This is the 18th and final episode in the third series of Holywell Trust Forward Together podcasts. This follows interviews with the leaders of the five political parties in government in Northern Ireland; Simon Hoare MP, who is chair of the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee; and sector experts, who have assessed the need for reform of our public services. All the past podcasts are available on the Holywell Trust website. The Holywell Trust Forward Together podcasts are funded by the Community Relations Council's Media Grant Scheme.                    Disclaimer: This project has received support from the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council which aims to promote a pluralist society characterised by equity, respect for diversity, and recognition of interdependence. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Community Relations Council.     

The Ligers talk Arlene Foster joining Great Brit News, the Beacon hospital inquiry and then the Beacon breaking down the latest anti-vax protest! Second half of the convo will be up on patreon.com/celticligers very shortly. give us a 5er a month to get that one and more. can also give us a small bit of money on buymeacoffee.com/celticligers Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Emma Little-Pengelly, former DUP MP and former special advisor to Arlene Foster, on what lies ahead in NI politics as Sir Jeffrey Donaldson takes on the leadership of the DUP

It seems revenge is a dish best served in the sun. This week Arlene Foster tweeted about enjoying an outdoor lunch while the DUP fell apart. Ill feeling is common in the corporate world too. We're joined by Louise Campbell, of Robert Walters Recruitment and Adam Maguire of RTE.

Chaos hits the Democratic Unionist Party, Northern Ireland's largest pro-British bloc, as new leader Edwin Poots is deposed in a revolt just 20 days after taking up the position. Naomi and Tim hear why the woman he usurped Arlene Foster is laughing, the Irish language dispute at the centre of Poots' downfall, and what it all tells us about dynamically changing politics in the North. This is a Halfpint bonus episode made specially to thank our Patreon supporters. To hear our full archive and support the podcast, head over to Patreon.com/theirishpassport. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @PassportIrish. If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.

Today's episode includes the following:https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/1404422885486235654?s=20https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/1404486764006359047?s=20https://twitter.com/VirginMediaNews/status/1404491323034550279?s=20https://twitter.com/Channel4News/status/1404452693075234820?s=20https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1404523829368606725?s=20https://twitter.com/newschambers/status/1404411931172147202?s=20https://www.itv.com/news/2021-06-14/british-woman-describes-how-she-repeatedly-punched-crocodile-in-mexico-to-save-her-twins-lifehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqNMjZpSbnUhttps://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1404201937537470465?s=20The Smart 7 Ireland Edition is a daily podcast that puts your brain into gear by telling you everything you need to know for the day in less than 7 minutes. It's a snapshot of the world, covering everything from politics to entertainment, via sport and current affairs.Please follow and spread the word!You need the Smarts? We've got the Smarts.Why not try The Sport 7 too?How about Science and Tech? Guess what - The Science 7!Contact us over at Twitter or visit www.thesmart7.comPresented by Ciara RevinsWritten, Produced and published by Daft Doris. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today's episode includes the following:https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/1397926803990147088?s=20https://twitter.com/VirginMediaNews/status/1397957235616235523?s=20https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/1398061909769924613?s=20https://twitter.com/VirginMediaNews/status/1397975895353135106?s=20https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1397925976898641921?s=20https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1397983826337468432?s=20https://twitter.com/hbomax/status/1397900535961952257?s=20https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-Bp2L4UHakThe Smart 7 Ireland Edition is a daily podcast that puts your brain into gear by telling you everything you need to know for the day in less than 7 minutes. It's a snapshot of the world, covering everything from politics to entertainment, via sport and current affairs.Please follow and spread the word!You need the Smarts? We've got the Smarts.Why not try The Sport 7 too?How about Science and Tech? Guess what - The Science 7!Contact us over at Twitter or visit www.thesmart7.comPresented by Paul ConnollyWritten, Produced and published by Daft Doris. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Stiofán Ó Nualláin of Trademark Belfast speaks to us about the causes of the riots in Northern Ireland in April; the resignation of First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster; the existential crisis, as he sees it, of political unionism; and the ongoing debates, north and south, about the prospect of a border poll.

All aboard The Gaff Cast Airlines! On this week's episode: the party to end all parties, floating rat ship heading for Mayo, Arlene Foster and shower gel. Rounded up with the Gaff Cast's movie of the week.  Ireland will be bouncing again soon; I can feel it. I broke the 5km restrictions to get a snack box and I'm not afraid to admit it. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it. Plug in your seatbelt and get ready for take-off, the Gaff Cast Airlines is setting sail. Not literally cause it's a plane not a boat. No sugar please I'm sweet enough.

To start the show, Mike speaks to Ben Habib, former Brexit Party and Co-Founder of Unlocked about Arlene Foster quitting the DUP. Next, Mike is joined by Former Chair of the BMA GP's committee Dr. Laurence Buckman to discuss many GP's not opening their clinics. Then, Mike and Conservative Commentator Calvin Robinson talk about the idea that 'good morning boys and girls' is too sexist to be used in schools. And to end the programme, Animal Behaviourist Dr Roger Mugford explains to Mike why certain breeds of dog behave differently. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Stjórnmál á Bretlandseyjum eru lífleg þessa dagana, kosningar verða eftir viku og þar beinist athyglin helst að Skotlandi. Hugsanlegt er að Skoski þjóðarflokkurinn, SNP, fái hreinan meirihluta á skoska þinginu. Á Norður-Írlandi hefur Arlene Foster sagt af sér sem fyrsti ráðherra og leiðtogi DUP, Lýðræðislega sambandsflokksins. DUP er stærsti flokkur mótmælenda og að mörgu leyti afar íhaldssamur í félagsmálum, á móti hjónaböndum samkynhneigða og réttindum trans fólks og algjörlega andvígur þungunarrofi. Margir stuðningsmenn flokksins eru afar reiðir vegna þess að þeir töldu Foster ekki hafa staðið gegn lögum á þessum sviðum sem breska þingið samþykkti meðan þing Norður-Írlands sat ekki. Mest er óánægjan með Brexit-samningana, þar sem Norður-Írland er de facto enn hluti af innri markaði Evrópusambandsins, öfugt við aðra hluta Stóra-Bretlands. Líta margir svo á að Boris Johnson, forsætisráðaherra Breta, hafi svikið loforð um að Norður-Írland yrði áfram órjúfanlegur hluti Stóra-Bretlands. Sjálfur er Boris Johnson í verulegum vandræðum vegna efasemda um hver borgaði fyrir endurnýjun íbúðar Johnsons í Downing-stræti og vegna meintra ummæla í haust um að honum væri sama þó líkin hrönnuðust upp, hann myndi ekki loka Bretlandi aftur. Þetta var meginumræðuefni Þórunnar Elísabetar og Boga Ágústssonar í Heimsglugga vikunnar.

Stjórnmál á Bretlandseyjum eru lífleg þessa dagana, kosningar verða eftir viku og þar beinist athyglin helst að Skotlandi. Hugsanlegt er að Skoski þjóðarflokkurinn, SNP, fái hreinan meirihluta á skoska þinginu. Á Norður-Írlandi hefur Arlene Foster sagt af sér sem fyrsti ráðherra og leiðtogi DUP, Lýðræðislega sambandsflokksins. DUP er stærsti flokkur mótmælenda og að mörgu leyti afar íhaldssamur í félagsmálum, á móti hjónaböndum samkynhneigða og réttindum trans fólks og algjörlega andvígur þungunarrofi. Margir stuðningsmenn flokksins eru afar reiðir vegna þess að þeir töldu Foster ekki hafa staðið gegn lögum á þessum sviðum sem breska þingið samþykkti meðan þing Norður-Írlands sat ekki. Mest er óánægjan með Brexit-samningana, þar sem Norður-Írland er de facto enn hluti af innri markaði Evrópusambandsins, öfugt við aðra hluta Stóra-Bretlands. Líta margir svo á að Boris Johnson, forsætisráðaherra Breta, hafi svikið loforð um að Norður-Írland yrði áfram órjúfanlegur hluti Stóra-Bretlands. Sjálfur er Boris Johnson í verulegum vandræðum vegna efasemda um hver borgaði fyrir endurnýjun íbúðar Johnsons í Downing-stræti og vegna meintra ummæla í haust um að honum væri sama þó líkin hrönnuðust upp, hann myndi ekki loka Bretlandi aftur. Þetta var meginumræðuefni Þórunnar Elísabetar og Boga Ágústssonar í Heimsglugga vikunnar.

Sjötta kvöldið í röð kom til óeirða á Norður-Írlandi í gærkvöld. Flóknar ástæður liggja að baki óánægju meðal sambandssinna í röðum mótmælenda. Ein ástæðan er reiði vegna þess að leiðtogar helsta flokks kaþólikka, Sinn Féin, voru ekki ákærðir fyrir brot á sóttvarnareglum þó að þau hafi brotið útivistarreglur með því að sækja útför IRA-skæruliðans Bobby Story í fyrra. Arlene Foster, fyrsti ráðherra Norður-Írlands og formaður stærsta flokks mótmælenda, hefur krafist afsagnar lögreglustjóra Norður-Írlands vegna málsins. Þá eru mótmælendur margir óánægðir með að Norður-Írland hefur breytta stöðu innan Sameinaða konungdæmisins, United Kingdom, eftir Brexit og í raun eiga að vera landamæri milli Norður-Írlands og annarra hluta Stóra-Bretlands. Naomi Long, formaður Alliance flokksins og dómsmálaráðherra Norður-Írlands, segir að hluti ástæðu óeirðanna sé að þeir sem vilji spilla friðinum séu í öfgasamtökum sambandssinna sem hafi verið í glæpastarfsemi og fíkniefnaviðskiptum og lögreglunni hafi tekist vel upp í baráttu gegn þessari glæpastarfsemi. Þá ræddu Þórunn Elísabet Bogadóttir og Bogi Ágústsson niðurstöður þing- og sveitarstjórnakosninga á Grænlandi, þar sem stjórnarandstöðuflokkurinn Inuit Ataqatigiit, eða IA, vann stóran sigur. Ungur leiðtogi flokksins, Múte B. Egede, verður að öllum líkindum næsti formaður landstjórnarinnar eða forsætisráðherra. Hann verður aðeins annar IA-maðurinn til að gegn embættinu. Kupiik Kleist gegndi því frá 2009-2013 en annars hefur jafnaðarmannaflokkurinn Siumut veitt stjórnum Grænlands forystu frá því að fyrsta stjórnin var mynduð 1979.

Sjötta kvöldið í röð kom til óeirða á Norður-Írlandi í gærkvöld. Flóknar ástæður liggja að baki óánægju meðal sambandssinna í röðum mótmælenda. Ein ástæðan er reiði vegna þess að leiðtogar helsta flokks kaþólikka, Sinn Féin, voru ekki ákærðir fyrir brot á sóttvarnareglum þó að þau hafi brotið útivistarreglur með því að sækja útför IRA-skæruliðans Bobby Story í fyrra. Arlene Foster, fyrsti ráðherra Norður-Írlands og formaður stærsta flokks mótmælenda, hefur krafist afsagnar lögreglustjóra Norður-Írlands vegna málsins. Þá eru mótmælendur margir óánægðir með að Norður-Írland hefur breytta stöðu innan Sameinaða konungdæmisins, United Kingdom, eftir Brexit og í raun eiga að vera landamæri milli Norður-Írlands og annarra hluta Stóra-Bretlands. Naomi Long, formaður Alliance flokksins og dómsmálaráðherra Norður-Írlands, segir að hluti ástæðu óeirðanna sé að þeir sem vilji spilla friðinum séu í öfgasamtökum sambandssinna sem hafi verið í glæpastarfsemi og fíkniefnaviðskiptum og lögreglunni hafi tekist vel upp í baráttu gegn þessari glæpastarfsemi. Þá ræddu Þórunn Elísabet Bogadóttir og Bogi Ágústsson niðurstöður þing- og sveitarstjórnakosninga á Grænlandi, þar sem stjórnarandstöðuflokkurinn Inuit Ataqatigiit, eða IA, vann stóran sigur. Ungur leiðtogi flokksins, Múte B. Egede, verður að öllum líkindum næsti formaður landstjórnarinnar eða forsætisráðherra. Hann verður aðeins annar IA-maðurinn til að gegn embættinu. Kupiik Kleist gegndi því frá 2009-2013 en annars hefur jafnaðarmannaflokkurinn Siumut veitt stjórnum Grænlands forystu frá því að fyrsta stjórnin var mynduð 1979.

Hello and welcome to the Alcohol Alert, brought to you by The Institute of Alcohol Studies.In this edition:COVID-19: Latest lockdown measures leave pubs in tiersIAS second briefing on COVID-19 alcohol consumption warns of the hidden harm from the rise in increasing and higher risk drinking 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵ScotRail considers a blanket ban on alcohol on Scottish trainsGovernment in call for evidence for review of alcohol dutyResearch finds that NoLo beers have a small impact on alcohol purchasesScottish and Irish governments face challenges over minimum unit pricing legislationSobriety tag scheme reaches WalesHeineken fined £2m for breaching Pubs CodeWe hope you enjoy our roundup of stories below: please feel free to share. Thank you.COVID-19: Latest lockdown measures leave pubs in tiersAs the UK began to experience an upturn in coronavirus case numbers, so policymakers in the devolved administrations started looking at tackling the sources of the dreaded second wave of COVID-19, and pubs have come under close scrutiny in all quarters.ScotlandScotland decided to close pubs across its central belt for a 16-day period, and limit the opening hours of other licensed premises, as part of a ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown (Scottish Government, 07 Oct).* Quoting her chief medical officer’s evidence, first minister Nicola Sturgeon drew a correlation between the ‘more than one fifth of people contacted by Test and Protect’ who reported visiting a hospitality setting, and the increase in the R rate above 1 ‘approximately three weeks after the hospitality sector opened up’:* subsequently extended to 02 November (STV News, 21 Oct)WalesIn Wales, where a 10PM curfew on selling alcohol for licensed premises was introduced last month, first minister Mark Drakeford proceeded to issue a ‘firebreak’ lockdown of his own – turning pubs into takeaway taverns only between 23 October and 09 November (Welsh Government, 19 Oct).EnglandThe same curfew applies to England. However, lawmakers decided to adopt the novel approach of localising management of the lockdown with a tier system, which has resulted in curious outcomes such as a legal definition of what a ‘substantial’ meal is, for the purpose of allowing some licensed premises to continue to operate under the most severe tier restrictions (The Mirror, 12 Oct).For some venue owners, the new rules also mean that in addition to pressure from law enforcement to check IDs for names and addresses in a bid to stop households mixing (EuroWeekly, 21 Oct), those situated in ‘high’ and ‘very high’ tier areas are either subject to the inevitability of fewer customers paying a visit, or temporary closure for wet-led pubs. One Financial Times article predicts the end of chains whose main custom is serving alcohol (13 Oct):On the face of it, the most affected of the UK’s listed national inn groups are Marston’s, JD Wetherspoon and M&B. It looks like last orders.Large proportions of Marston’s and JD Wetherspoon’s hostelries are wet-led. Food as a percentage of JDW’s total sales rank among the lowest in the sector. More than two-thirds of Marston’s pubs are old-fashioned boozers.All three groups are loaded with debt, which even last year was many times ebitda. Earnings of all three are expected to at least halve this year. Marston’s stood at about £1·4bn at the last count or £1·2bn including the cash coming in from the brewing joint venture with Carlsberg opportunely signed this summer. That could be more than 10 times this year’s ebitda. Pub earnings of many groups will barely cover interest bills this year.The resulting uncertainty has only served to anger licensees and those sympathetic to the plight of the industry. Some have pulled stunts, such as a retaliatory ban (Telegraph, 30 Sep); others have sought further evidence for the 10PM curfew’s effectiveness and whether it represents a threat to the health of people thrown out of pubs and restaurants at the same time (London Evening Standard, 06 Oct); but The Night Time Industries Association has launched legal action to try to prevent the new lockdown measures entirely (Daily Mail, 12 Oct).Whatever the outcome, the reality of the current measures will most likely be a further loss of jobs in the hospitality sector, like Greene King (Sky News, 07 Oct), and a permanent shutdown of licensed premises – as many as one in five, according to real estate adviser Altus Group (Morning Advertiser, 08 Oct).Northern IrelandHaving already set a curfew time for licensed premises of 11PM as opposed to 10PM in other areas of the UK, the Stormont executive decided to do lockdown a little differently from the other Home Nations too. Their first minister, Arlene Foster, announced a four-week shutdown of the hospitality sector apart from deliveries and takeaways for food only during trading hours. Uniquely, Northern Ireland is the only nation to address the availability of alcohol in the off-trade too: off-licences and supermarkets will not be permitted to sell alcohol after 8pm (Northern Ireland Executive Office, 14 Oct) during the period.Too much focus on pubs?In the row between government and the hospitality sector over the COVID-19 restrictions, the deputy chief medical officer for England was reported to have said that he ‘could not guarantee’ the 10PM curfew would ‘bring the virus under control’ (The Telegraph, 18 Oct, £wall), instead preferring a mandatory closing time of 6PM.But while much has been made of the impact of the latest round of restrictions on licensed premises, supermarkets have benefited from the increase in alcohol purchases in the four weeks to 04 October: Kantar data reported Britons spent an extra £261m on alcohol in grocery stores (Guardian, 13 Oct).Data from Public Health England Wider Impacts of COVID-19 on Health (WICH) monitoring tool indicates the influence of pandemic-induced home drinking on the intake of increasing and higher risk drinkers.COVID-19 briefing warns of rising health risks to heavy drinkers🎵 Podcast feature 🎵The second Institute of Alcohol Studies briefing on alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic (08 Oct) warns of the hidden harm from the rise in increasing and higher risk drinking and highlights the need for the UK Government to find public health solutions to the issue.Speaking on the podcast, Dr Sadie Boniface, IAS head of research, who authored the briefing, hinted at the impact that increased consumption among the heaviest drinkers may have on treatment providers for substance problems:In terms of treatment for substance use problems including alcohol, there’s been a bit of a fall compared with the same time period last year, but I have read some other statistics as well that say it’s starting to pick up now, so what’s really concerning is that problems to do with increased drinking during the pandemic might be being stored up for the future.Alcohol ban on Scottish trains under considerationAccording to The Scotsman, national train operator ScotRail have informed the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union of the possibility of bringing in ‘a full all-hours drinking ban on trains in a bid to tighten up on COVID-19 safety measures’ (17 Oct).It comes after the nation’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said more stringent travel rules ‘need to be considered’.However, the move is rumoured to have been put on hold after the British Transport Police (BTP) called for more time to consider the resource implications, and the RMT have expressed some concerns about enforcement of the new rules.Mick Hogg, regional organiser for the RMT in Scotland, said: ‘We have been told by ScotRail that there will be a full ban on alcohol on trains as a COVID-19 measure. We welcome that.‘But it has to be resourced or it puts more pressure on our staff. It’s a double whammy for them. They can’t enforce the wearing of masks or police passengers drinking alcohol. That has been a big issue for a while. We know the BTP don't have enough staff as it is.’ScotRail’s current alcohol byelaws state that passengers can't drink alcohol on their trains between 21:00 and 10:00hrs, and they may not allow you to board if you are extremely drunk. But this has not stopped it happening. One conductor told the newspaper: ‘Busy weekend nights haven't calmed down in recent weeks. People from Edinburgh and Glasgow have been piling on trains across to Fife to go to the pub. I've seen packed trains with the vast majority of passengers drunk’.Government in call for evidence for review of alcohol dutyPublic health and trade organisations are lining up to submit evidence to the Alcohol duty review, as per the government’s Budget announcement earlier this year (Gov.uk, 01 Oct).The review has been widely welcomed by stakeholders, as the UK gains the power to reform alcohol taxation following their departure from the European Union. HM Treasury’s call for evidence will also ask whether:the method of alcohol taxation should be standardisedthe duty categories should be changed or unifiedproducts should be consistently distinguished by their strengthdistinctions should be made based on the place of retailsmall producer reliefs should be extended or standardisedduties could be uprated for inflation in a more consistent mannera single process for approvals, declarations and payments should be introducedmore could be done to tackle avoidance and evasion of dutyThe deadline for responses is 29 November.NoLo beers have small impact on alcohol purchasesResearch published in BMJ Open has found that there were significant but small reductions to alcohol sales following the introduction of new no and low alcohol beers during 2017–2018 and reformulation of existing beers to contain less alcohol during 2018 (12 Oct).Using purchase data from Kantar Worldpanel’s household shopping panel for 2015–2018, researchers looked at the purchasing habits of 64, 286 British households following a period which saw 46 new low and no alcohol beer beverages and 33 beer beverages reformulated to contain less alcohol. A step-jump in volume bought was noticed for both beverage types at the beginning of March 2017 and during mid-March 2018 respectively. Interrupted time series analyses found a combined associated impact of both events with relative reductions of alcohol by volume of beer between 1·2% and 2·3%; purchases of grams of alcohol within beer between 7·1% and 10·2%; and purchases of grams of alcohol as a whole between 2·6% and 3·9%. The reductions were greater for reformulation than for the introduction of new low and no alcohol products. Reductions were independently higher for younger age groups of shoppers and for households that bought the most alcohol.The research team conclude that the fact that the volume of purchases for both new low and no alcohol beer products (2·6% of total beer volume purchased during 2018) and of new reformulated beer products (6·9%) was very small ‘indicates that there are future opportunities to increase the volume of such products so as to reduce the harm done by alcohol’.In other newsA 30-year review of global disease burdens published in The Lancet finds alcohol use was the leading risk factor for those aged 25–49 years (17 Oct). Overall, alcohol use was one of the fastest growing burdens, at more than 0·5% per year. When split by sex, ‘there were large differences between attributable deaths in males and females due to alcohol use, which accounted for 2·07 million (1·79–2·37) deaths in males and 0·374 million (0·298–0·461) deaths in females in 2019’. The national picture estimated alcohol to be the cause of approximately 4% of deaths and 5% of Disability Adjusted Life Years in 2019 (illustrated).A team of researchers will establish the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of the Drink Less app at reducing alcohol consumption among hazardous and harmful adult drinkers, in what will be the first randomised controlled trial of an alcohol reduction app for the general population in the UK (17 Oct). The result of the study will inform the decision on whether it is worth investing resources in large‐scale implementation.Alcohol screening and supportive interventions from primary care practitioners can help older people make healthier decisions about their alcohol use, according to a qualitative study published in the British Journal of General Practice (19 Oct). A total of 24 older adults aged ≥65 years and 35 primary care practitioners in northern England participated in interviews and focus groups. Researchers found that they were motivated to make changes to their alcohol use when they experienced symptoms, and if they felt that limiting consumption would enable them to maintain their quality of life.Minimum unit pricing – the latest from Scotland and IrelandScotland: is a legal challenge possible?The Scottish Parliament voted 90 to 28 to refuse legislative consent to the UK Internal Market Bill (BBC News Scotland, 07 Oct), fearing that the legislation could cause a constitutional rift that would open bold public health measures such as minimum unit pricing for alcohol (MUP) to another legal challenge.The Westminster government is not bound by the vote in Holyrood, but the Scottish constitution secretary notes that it formalises the nation’s ‘explicit’ and comprehensive rejection of the bill. Last month, Michael Russell said in a statement (Scottish Government, 08 Sep) that the bill would ‘open the door to a race to the bottom on food standards, environmental standards and will endanger key public health policies such as minimum unit pricing.’The Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack issued a rebuttal denying the ‘false claims’ made by First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon about the bill, assuring in point four of his statement that MUP would still have been introduced:But devolution expert Jess Sargeant states that the internal market bill could be interpreted in a way that ‘inevitably will place greater limits on devolved competence than present arrangements’, which could also ‘impede key benefits of devolution “as a policy lab”, allowing new policies to be tried in one jurisdiction before being adopted elsewhere’. (Institute for Government, 14 Sep)This opinion was supported by an advisor to Holyrood's Constitution committee, who told The Scotsman that ‘issues may arise if minimum pricing is considered in the context of “indirect discrimination”’, and this may give rise to a court challenge (12 Oct).He explains in a paper: ‘A Scottish rule that applies Minimum Unit Pricing to all alcohol whether domestic or imported could be indirectly discriminatory if it impacts more on imported alcohol than it does comparable Scottish-produced alcohol’. Rules will be assessed on three conditions, including on the grounds of whether it ‘cannot reasonably be considered to be a necessary means of achieving a legitimate aim’.Although the ‘protection of public health’ is recognised in the bill as a legitimate aim, the advisor warns there could be questions raised around whether MUP will be ‘reasonably’ considered to be ‘necessary’ to achieve this aim, and so a challenge based on the new conditions may be brought.Irish MUP still on ice two years on from the Public Health (Alcohol) ActThe Irish Times reports that on the second anniversary of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, MUP is still to be implemented (12 Oct). Alcohol Action Ireland’s head of advocacy Eunan McKinney went further, saying that there is ‘no starting date for the “difficult stuff”… including labelling on all alcohol products of the links to cancer, the 9PM broadcasting watershed for alcohol advertising, and restriction on the content of advertising to make it “utilitarian” with “no hero, no glamour”’.The news comes as the Budget 2021 statement made no direct reference to alcohol, meaning duties were left unchanged (Government of Ireland, 13 Oct). While Alcohol Action Ireland (13 Oct) welcomed ministers for not acquiescing to ‘the extensive lobbying of the alcohol industry, who had sought a 15% reduction’, they regretted the missed opportunity ‘to introduce a Cost-of-Living index to excise rates’, amongst other plans outlined in their Pre-Budget submission.Responding to the Budget, Alcohol Action Ireland chief executive Dr Sheila Gilheany (listen to the podcast for her full statement) said that ‘everyday that delays these measures being introduced can be counted in lives unnecessarily lost and endless public expenditure that could be saved, if implemented they will undoubtedly achieve better public health outcomes. Left dormant on the statute books, they are useless. ‘What’s required now, two years on, is a firm timeline from Taoiseach and his government that commits to the implementation in full of the suite of measures whose effectiveness relies on coherent and cohesive actions.’Sobriety tag scheme reaches WalesOffenders convicted of alcohol-related crimes in Wales can now be banned from drinking and ordered to wear a sobriety tag by judges (Gov.uk, 21 Oct).The ankle tags will monitor offenders’ sweat every 30 minutes and alert probation staff if alcohol is consumed. Those found in breach of their drinking bans can face fines or be sentenced in court. The tags can be given out when courts impose an alcohol abstinence order, a new power which serves a drinking ban on an offender for up to 120 days. The Ministry of Justice says treatment referrals for alcohol use will continue to be made for those with more serious alcohol addictions who commit crimes.The Welsh scheme follows two pilots in London and across Humberside, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire, both of which showed that offenders were sober on 97.4% of the days monitored, although their apparent success is qualified by the fact they involved fewer than 500 people, and only six participants agreed to be interviewed about the tags in the Humberside, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire pilot (NatCen, Oct 2019).Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: ‘Alcohol can have a devastating impact on lives and figures show it is a key factor behind far too many crimes.‘I am encouraged to see Wales at the forefront of implementing this new technology, which we believe will contribute towards lowering reoffending rates, making our streets safer and supporting those who need help.’Heineken fined £2m for breaching Pubs Code The pubs code adjudicator (PCA) has found Heineken guilty of forcing tenants of its public houses to sell ‘unreasonable’ amounts of their own beers and ciders (Gov.uk, 15 Oct).Following a three-year investigation ending in July 2019, Fiona Dickie concluded that Heineken – via its pubs business, Star – had ‘seriously and repeatedly’ breached laws that protect publicans from company behaviour aimed at prohibiting pubs selling competitor brands. This was despite repeated regulatory interventions and clear arbitration rulings from the adjudicator.Dickie said: ‘The report of my investigation is a game-changer. It demonstrates that the regulator can and will act robustly to protect the rights that parliament has given to tied tenants.’The PCA’s assessment of industry malpractice found Heineken had committed a total of 12 breaches with the result that it had frustrated the principles of the Pubs Code. As well as identifying how the company had offered stocking terms that had acted as a deterrent to pub tenants pursuing a free-of-tie tenancy, the PCA highlighted systemic corporate failures by Star in its approach to compliance.The news comes weeks before the conclusion of a government review into the Code itself. The tie element of the Code has long been criticised by pub owners and campaigners, who say it is being routinely abused by deep-pocketed pubcos able to flout the spirit of the code that governs it (Guardian, 15 Oct).The PCA also discovered that the company rewrote the job description of Code Compliance Officer ‘to ensure the Code is interpreted to the commercial benefit of Heineken UK’. This breached the Code requirement to appoint a compliance officer whose role is to verify compliance.Dickie decided upon ‘the imposition of a sanction’ to ‘change the company’s mindset’ towards compliance and ‘serve as a deterrent to future non-compliant conduct by Star and other pub-owning businesses’.As well as imposing the fine – which can account for up to 1% of the relevant pub-owning group’s annual UK turnover – the PCA has also ordered Star to make all its free-of-tie tenancies Pubs Code compliant and to ensure future Code compliance. In response, Star pubs managing director, Lawson Mountstevens, said in a statement: ‘We are deeply disappointed and frustrated at the outcome of this investigation.‘There are many aspects of the report that we fundamentally disagree with and we are actively considering an appeal.‘This penalty is unwarranted and disproportionate, and comes at a time when the entire sector is in serious financial crisis as we work around the clock to support our pubs and licensees to keep their businesses afloat.’Dickie has given Heineken six weeks to provide a detailed response to how it will implement her recommendations, and has ordered them to write to all its tenants explaining her findings, the measures Star is taking to respond to them and how these will affect tenants in practical terms.‘I will be holding discussions with all the companies I regulate following my findings about how they will ensure they are code-compliant,’ Dickie said. ‘My message is that if anyone previously had any doubts about my resolution to act when I find breaches, they can have no doubt now.’The UK Alcohol Alert (incorporating Alliance News) is designed and produced by The Institute of Alcohol Studies. Please click the image below to visit our website and find out more about us and what we do, or the ‘Contact us’ button. Thank you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit instalcstud.substack.com

Arlene Foster, U.K. Democratic Unionist Party Leader, tells us why her party doesn't support May's Brexit deal. Kevin Tynan, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Automotive Analyst, says GM is going through this "painful transition" in order to be relevant in the future. Edward Alden, CFR Senior Fellow and Author of "Failure To Adjust: How Americans Got Left Behind In The Global Economy", says China is a bigger market for GM than the U.S. Andrew Wood, Chatham House Associate Fellow for their Russia and Eurasia Programme, does not think there will be new sanctions on Russia.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights of Sunday's political interviews. Today's podcast features Jeremy Hunt, Arlene Foster, Tony Blair, Lisa Nandy and Jean-Claude Juncker. Produced by Matthew Taylor.

Isabel Hardman presents the highlights of Sunday's political interviews. This week's highlights come from Sajid Javid, Arlene Foster, Stella Creasy and Andrew Lloyd Webber. This podcast was produced by Matthew Taylor.

Isabel Hardman takes you through the best of Sundays interviews. Today's highlights are from Greg Clark, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Justine Greening, Arlene Foster and Ian Lavery. Produced by Matthew Taylor (today's podcast with added birdsong).

An urgent call from Arlene Foster interrupted Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker's lunch date. We take a look at what went wrong and why, and forward to where on earth things might go from here

How will the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland be managed once the UK has left the EU? Sarah Montague asks Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland's First Minister, how she will make sure Brexit does not mean a return to the divisions of the past.(Photo: First Minister of Northern Ireland Arlene Foster arrives for a meeting at 10 Downing St, London, 2016 in , England. Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images)