What the papers have said in the week to October 24th
Free meals in the school holidays
The good news feeling comes from the stories which began with the government’s vote against a proposal to extend the provision of free meals to poorer children during school holidays. This is a proposal strongly associated with Marcus Rashford, Manchester United and England footballer. He expressed horror and despair that the government should be so uncaring. Within days we have seen a massive petition in support of the proposal, resignations by Conservative MPs and commitment to fund these meals from local councils, charities and others. The government is called to shame for their decision, and it is possible it will be reversed
Ordinary people are making it clear they care
https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/10/24/what-the-papers-say-october-24/
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/23/voting-against-free-school-meals-shames-britain
The government faces criticism for some other actions:
In a break with recent tradition, Archbishop John Sentamu has not moved immediately to the House of Lords as he retires from York. There is an immediate suspicion of prejudice and discrimination, but we are told it is simply a matter of timing https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/18/john-sentamu-peerage-snub-criticised-as-institutional-prejudice
Analysis sees corruption in almost all its dealings:
- https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/oct/19/corruption-drives-this-governments-policies
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/21/government-covid-contracts-britain-nhs-corporate-executives-test-and-trace
And its plan to deport homeless people who come from other countries is called ‘immoral’ https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/21/foreign-rough-sleepers-face-deportation-from-uk-post-brexit
This government may be attracted to the enthusiasm of the Centre for Policy Studies to ‘scrap pension triple lock to stop tax rises’ (as well as cutting public sector administration, selling high value council houses, streamlining local government, and tightening eligibility criteria for child benefit).
But they would be wise to think before they leap that way
Another perspective on the divisions within our communities comes from a distasteful insight into life at Durham University and a few other universities which have become preferred ports of call for students who have had the advantage of private education:
- https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/oct/19/students-from-northern-england-facing-toxic-attitude-at-durham-university
- https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/oct/20/private-educations-role-in-durham-university-disgrace
- https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/oct/21/how-times-change-at-durham-university
Covid 19 is still with us and there are increases in the number of new cases in many countries, including the UK. More people are being admitted to hospital and more people are dying. There are some differences of interpretation but most countries have begun to return toward a partial lockdown. Disagreements between central government and local leaders have filled headlines
- There is accumulating evidence of the stress and ill health and (probably) deaths attributed to the restrictions imposed in attempts to contain the pandemic: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/23/helpless-and-bereaved-how-covid-separated-blind-couple-after-47-years ; https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/19/third-more-deaths-at-home-before-covid-england
- The impact has been greatest on the least well off, older people, disabled people and ethnic minority communities https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/20/equality-gains-in-the-uk-risk-being-reversed-by-coronavirus-says-ehrc
- Fewer people have been taking exercise, thus exposing themselves to loss of fitness and vulnerability to other illnesses, including mental illnesses https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/oct/22/sport-england-reports-three-million-fewer-people-active-during-lockdown
- A particular risk of this phenomenon is identified amongst people in prison, including the swollen number of older prisoners https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/20/covid-19-prison-staff-say-restrictions-creating-a-mental-health-timebomb. Some are arguing that it would be sensible to discharge some prisoners early to avoid further hazard to their health. This would need to be carefully managed and proper aftercare ensured for their supervision (already known to threadbare) and attention to their healthcare and social care needs.
- While people have been neglecting their physical fitness, they have been feeding the mind – libraries seeing extra interest in ebooks https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/23/library-ebook-lending-surges-as-uk-turns-to-fiction-during-lockdown
Other matters:
The Church’s headlines, beyond Archbishop Sentamu, find Pope Francis in support of same sex civil partnerships: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/21/pope-francis-backs-same-sex-civil-unions
Failure to take appropriate action against a colleague who had abused people in his charge, places Bishop Glyn Webster at risk of losing his job https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/22/bishop-could-lose-office-for-failure-to-act-on-sexual-abuse-disclosure
And a report suggests that church teaching on sexuality rendered an older man vulnerable to exploitation and eventually to being murdered by a younger carer https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/23/maids-moreton-c-of-e-views-on-homosexuality-put-victim-at-risk
Science in various modes:
Social scientists of Loughborough University have found that 3.5 million single childless adults in this country live with their parents. This may have advantages to all both now and in their futures. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/18/boomerang-trend-of-young-adults-living-with-parents-is-rising-study
Anthropologists studying the behaviour of chimpanzees over a period of ten years, found that as they got older, they reduced their circle of social contacts, but intensified those which remained. Aggression was much less than when they were younger. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/oct/22/chimps-pare-down-their-social-circle-in-later-years-study. Quite human
Diet: tea and fruit are kind to blood pressure https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/oct/21/diets-rich-in-tea-berries-and-apples-could-lower-blood-pressure-study
Air pollution: study of mental state amongst 1,000 residents of Southwark and Lambeth has shown a strong association between the presence of pollutants in the air and symptoms of depression and anxiety
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/24/small-increases-in-air-pollution-linked-to-rise-in-depression-finds-study#:~:text=The%20researchers%20found%20that%20an,the%20risk%20rose%20by%2018%25.
- https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/study-supports-link-between-traffic-related-air-pollution-and-mental-disorders
Soccer and dementia. Following on from stories last week, the families of famous footballers Jack Charlton, Nobby Styles and others are keen to see more research to reduce the hazards of professional contact sports https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/oct/24/families-of-jack-charlton-and-nobby-stiles-back-new-concussion-dementia-campaign
And finally we have another military man using his discipline and determination to raise funds for a very good cause with a quirky project: Major Michael Stanley (80)Ex Royal Scots Dragoon Guards aims to row 100miles on the Chichester canal in a homemade tub to raise funds for St Wilfred’ Hospice Retired major, 80, aims to row 100 miles in homemade ‘Tintanic’ boat
David Jolley
