Journalism / Choke the Woke: “Freedom of the press is not actually about media freedom. “It is about our freedom” – Government minister

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lucy Frazer Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer's speech on Journalism Matters Week Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer’s remarks at a reception at No. 10 Downing Street to celebrate Journalism Matters Week Journalism matters. That’s what this week in the year is about. But it isn’t something that we should …

Choke the Woke: Hate speech laws threaten free and open debate, says new report

"Defenders of political pluralism now need to wage a counter-attack based upon a foundational, natural rights-based defence of free speech.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hate speech laws are stifling free and open debate in the UK, according to a new report from the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank. Report author Marc Glendening attributes the growth in censorious …

Another fire brigade warning after they rescue three people from e-scooter blaze

“Without much-needed legislation and the right standards, more dangerous and unregulated products bought online are going to end up in people’s homes and on our streets" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ https://youtu.be/wvdJZQ0fiRg?t=5 Sofia Duarte was 21 years old when she lost her life in an e-bike fire on New Years Day She was born in Portugal before moving to …

CCTV issued as appeals to locate Justin Henry continue… Update: Man charged with murder of 19-year-old woman in Croydon… Third man charged with murder of 16-year-old on Sevenoaks Way

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Justin Henry have released footage of his last movements as his family appeal to the public for information. Justin was last seen in person on the evening of Sunday October 15th. At around 21:50hrs on the same evening Justin was seen on CCTV buying food at a McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant …

Arts: Gather Round For A Ghost Story at Penge West…. As Apologia opens in West Norwood

Inspired by ‘The Green Room’ by Walter De La Mare Bridge House theatre's latest in-house production, The Girl In The Green Room opens on Halloween. From Bridge House theatre: This one-man ghost story written and directed by Luke Adamson and performed by Joe is as a celebration of all things horror. As the heavens open …

Unsafe Halloween products recalled… Government calls ‘Time’ on councils running four-day weeks… New electric vehicle charging laws…

OPSS highlights unsafe Halloween products The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is highlighting a range of unsafe Halloween products recalled this season. Product recalls Maeau girls’ witch costume sold via Amazon Maeau baby girl’s pumpkin outfit sold via Amazon Yhong girl’s Halloween dress-up star outfit sold via Amazon Spooktacular Creations Orange and Purple …

Second cost-of-living instalment in bank accounts today… Government pledge to help reduce leaseholder insurance premiums… Report finds ‘worrying vacuum’ in surveillance camera plans… AI to speed up lung cancer diagnosis deployed in NHS hospitals

Second cost-of-living instalment in bank accounts today to support families ahead of winter Millions of people across the country are set to receive significant cost of living support ahead of winter, with the government freezing bus fares in England and the second instalment of the cost-of-living payment  – worth £900 in total - landing directly …

More than 60 arrests on first day of Just Stop Olive Oyl protests (in just 31 minutes) “It’s clear the public have had enough” – police

Met officers have been responding to the first day of disruption caused by Just Stop Oil / Just Stop Olive Oyl as the group began further protest activity in London. From the Met: We know this will cause disruption to Londoners and result in local officers being taken out of communities across the capital to …

Five charged following pro-Palestine protest in central London – 16-year-old to appear before Bromley magistrates next month

Five people arrested during Saturday's pro-Palestine protests in central London on Saturday have been charged, say the Met Police. More than 1,000 officers were on duty as part of the policing operation. Nine people were arrested on Saturday, two on suspicion of assaulting police officers and seven for public order offences. A further two people …

Has YOUR council filed its annual accounts on time? – hundreds haven’t say TaxPayers Alliance

New TaxPayers Alliance research this week uncovered what the organisation are calling "a fresh scandal for local councils" as the TPA revealed that hundreds had failed to file their accounts on time. "The annual statement of accounts is the most comprehensive look at a council’s finances" say the TPA. "Yet despite having a statutory requirement to …