The British royal family has publicly condemned Hamas as terrorists and expressed their dismay at the attacks on Israel. King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales have all criticised the group's actions. The comments come as the BBC faces pressure to refer to Hamas as terrorists rather than militants. The controversy regarding this reluctance has sparked debate among political figures and former executives. The BBC has defended its stance, stating that using the term ‘terrorist’ could compromise journalistic impartiality. Critics argue that by not using the term, the BBC is taking sides, and claim that it fails to accurately report acts of terrorism and war crimes. Despite the debate, the royal family remains focused on supporting interfaith and inter-community dialogue and promoting peace and understanding in challenging times. The King has a history of engaging in peace efforts in the region, including visits to Israel and the West Bank.
Antisemitic incidents in the UK have surged enormously since the Hamas attack on Israel, with 89 ‘anti-Jewish hate’ cases reported from 7 to 10 October, compared to 21 during the same period last year. There have been six assaults, three instances of property damage, and 66 cases of abusive behaviour, including 22 online. Examples included a Jewish person being verbally attacked with anti-Semitic slurs while walking to a synagogue in London, and the occupants of a car outside a London synagogue shouting threats like ‘Death to Israel’ while waving a Palestinian flag. Security minister Tom Tugendhat expressed grave concern, likening Hamas's ideology to that of the Nazis and calling for measures to combat hate speech. Home secretary Suella Braverman has urged increased police patrols to prevent further incidents. Jewish schools in London and Manchester have heightened security, with some students advised not to wear blazers in public to avoid being easily identified as Jewish.
New assisted suicide legislation in Scotland would open a 'Pandora's Box', according to disability policy advisor Dr Miro Griffiths. He says that the proposals being brought forward by Liam McArthur MSP 'represent a dangerous idea that would see the vulnerable and marginalised in society placed at risk of irreversible harm'. Dr Griffiths spoke about his own experience of living with disabilities: ‘My strength, respiratory functioning, and swallowing will continue to deteriorate. I require a power wheelchair, 24-hour personal assistance, and various medical interventions every day. I hope readers will realise that I, and many others in my community, approach this issue in a way that others in society will not.’ Canada legalised assisted suicide and euthanasia in 2016; within five years, the law was expanded and key safeguards were removed. There has been a tenfold rise in assisted suicides since the law was changed. Dr Griffiths concluded by saying that a change in the law was simply too dangerous, especially in the context of stretched public services.
The Labour Party has pledged to introduce comprehensive legislation to ban gay conversion therapy without any loopholes if it wins the upcoming general election. The Government has faced delays in announcing its own plans for a ban, partly due to concerns from various religious groups about potential impacts on their practices. Shadow equalities secretary Anneliese Dodds has denounced conversion therapy as abuse and criticised the delay in banning it. Many church leaders have expressed support for banning specific conversion therapy practices but are concerned that a full ban might hinder their ability to pray with individuals experiencing unwanted same-sex attraction. They cite an example from Australia where similar legislation led to challenges to church teachings and prayer practices.
Judges in England and Wales have been instructed to delay sentencing hearings due to overcrowded prisons. There are concerns that convicted criminals may avoid jail time because of the lack of available prison space. Lord Edis, the senior presiding judge, has directed that sentencing for individuals on bail should be postponed, starting next week. The Government is also considering early releases as a measure to manage the growing prison population. The prison system is operating under intense pressure, with projections indicating that the population will exceed the number of operational prison places by November. Shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood criticised the government's handling of the prison system, labelling it a ‘damning indictment’. Security minister Tom Tugendhat emphasised that those convicted of serious crimes would still go to prison for extended periods, citing the government's commitment to increasing prison capacity. The government is even exploring the possibility of renting prison cells overseas to address overcrowding.
Northern Ireland: PSNI sends advice by text
12 Oct 2023
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has sent texts to nearly two thousand individuals whose phone numbers were discovered during drug raids. These texts contain advice on substance misuse and aim to address the growing demand for illicit drugs in Northern Ireland. Drug seizures and drug-related arrests have both increased by 10% this year. The PSNI's recent focus has been on the supply of Class A and Class B drugs through social media apps and groups. This trend has transformed the drugs market in Northern Ireland over the past few years. Paramilitary groups are working closely with organised crime groups to import and distribute drugs: about sixty criminal gangs currently operate in the region. The PSNI is working with national and international law enforcement partners to target suppliers and supply lines. It is also collaborating with Border Force to prevent drug smuggling through Northern Ireland's ports.
Poland: bitter election campaign splits country
12 Oct 2023
In the old shipyard in Gdansk, where striking workers were once the catalyst for major political change, young Poles now worry that the rights and freedoms won by the Solidarity movement over three decades ago are at risk, as the ruling right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS) campaigns to secure a record third term in office. Critics point to the shrinking independence of the courts under PiS and backsliding on women's rights, including a near-total ban on abortion. There is also concern about media freedom - publicly-funded TV becoming a government mouthpiece - as well as acrimonious wrangling with Brussels on issues from judicial reform to migration. Many Poles regard the election on 15 October as the most important since 1989, when Solidarity candidates swept the board in the first partially-free vote since communist rule. In such a polarised race, much of the campaigning has been nasty: opposition leader Donald Tusk has referred to the government as evil and called the prime minister Pinocchio. Mateusz Morawiecki’s party consistently claims that Tusks’s party represents ‘foreign interests’, painting him as a traitor and a stooge of Berlin. Opinion polls put PiS narrowly ahead - though possibly without a large enough majority to form a government.
In the 85th week of the war, Russia is trying to freeze Kyiv’s four-month-old counteroffensive which has succeeded in wresting back half the territory captured earlier this year and depriving Russia of control of the western Black Sea. On 6 October Russian forces resumed an offensive effort against the city of Kupyansk: they are also attempting to capture Avdiivka, an eastern city which they have surrounded to the north and south. These tactical operations aimed to stop what has been a slow but steady Ukrainian advance, ahead of the Russian presidential elections. Despite these attacks, Ukraine seems to be pressing on with the counteroffensive. Meanwhile, two Ukrainian brothers have been accused of responsibility for organising the Russian missile strike on a shop and café in the village of Hroza, also on 6 October, which killed 55 civilians out of a population of 350: see