What’s With The Pronouns, How Many People Does She Think She Is..?

Londoners living with disabilities and chronic health conditions say they have struggled to use a Transport for London (TfL) scheme while travelling, with one even threatened by another passenger. The "Please Offer Me A Seat" badge and card scheme, which marks its eighth anniversary this month, is designed to help those with disabilities and health conditions by signalling, external to other passengers they should give up their seat if needed.

And what happens when those passengers have no visible disability? Like their example, a typical dyed-hair example of modern youth?

Eliza Rain, 28, who has a chronic pain condition, said when using the badge they were often challenged and one passenger "threatened to push me off the train because I'd asked for their seat".Eliza, a content creator from London, is one of the more than 140,000 people who use the badge. They said they used it for more than four years on their Tube commute and on buses and trains, but eventually opted to use their wheelchair while on public transport due to how many other passengers refused to give up their seat. "People wouldn't give me a seat, and I couldn't stand... without potentially having a dangerous medical episode," they explained.

Is 'dangerous medical episode' code for 'nervous breakdown', perhaps? She's clearly not operating with a full set of tools. 

When working in their old job, Eliza said it was stressful and "pretty much impossible" for them to get a seat on the Northern line to London Bridge using the badge, despite being at risk of passing out. They said: "I had someone basically just shout at me and flat out say 'no'. "Someone else threatened to push me off the train because I'd asked for their seat because I needed to sit down, and they were in the priority area and didn't have a badge. Obviously they could have said no if they needed the seat."

What makes you so sure they didn't need it, Eliza? Don't you believe in the 'invisible disabilities' yourself? 

On some days not being able to sit down on the Tube caused a symptom flare-up which left them unable to do daily activities like cook a meal.

She doesn't look like she's missed many...  

They said they had also been questioned in the past about "what was wrong" with them when using the badge.

Pity the author of this article didn't mention the fact she appears not to know how many people she is... 

And It’s No Surprise They Allocate Them To More Of Their Own Kind, Is It?

On a cold morning in the heart of London, recently arrived refugees and more established migrants gather in a community centre. Their mission? To decide how £500,000 in funding will be used to support people like them.

Not 'the community', or 'the borough residents'. Just more moochers and fake asylum seekers. Are we mad? 

The initiative is part of the Borough of Sanctuary grants programme, which takes the government’s commitment to devolution a step further, using it to empower migrants and refugees. Islington in north London is one of the boroughs that has been recognised for its work welcoming people seeking refuge, people with experience of seeking asylum and those migrating, and is a participant in the scheme. The council recruited 18 people living in the borough originally from countries including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Iran and Sri Lanka to decide how the funds should be allocated.

I wonder if there are similar programmes in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka to assist UK people who have fled the insanity for a new life?  

Having faced the challenges of navigating a new country, language barriers and the complexities of the asylum process, their insights are shaping how the grants are distributed to ensure the funding reaches those who need it most.

'Those who need it most' not including the mugs taxed to the hilt to pay for it all, of course... 

At a time when openness to refugees and migrants is often considered politically toxic, Islington council said it wants those people seeking asylum to feel not only welcome but also empowered to shape their local community. “We’ve got 250,000 residents in Islington. How many know we’re a borough of sanctuary? Probably not that many. I want all 5,000 people who work for Islington council to know we’re a borough of sanctuary,” said Sheila Chapman, an Islington councillor who leads on equalities, communities and inclusion.

And the ratepayers of Islington? Don't they get a say? I mean, they are mostly dim progressives but not all of them.  

Chapman added that welcoming people is not just morally right but also beneficial. “People who have fled war-torn places or persecution are the ones with the bravery, courage and ingenuity to get from there to here. They are the people you want.”

They are the people their country wants too, if it's ever going to break out of the Third World, did you ever think of that?  

It’s The Users, Not The Supply…

Londoners are calling for the end of Lime Bikes in the capital after they were spotted blocking entire pavements.

A call I heartily support! There's a bike stand outside the office but these things lie on their sides littering the pavement all around it, they are a menace.  

A shocking picture posted to the Reddit group, r/London shows a large area of a street taken over by a parked Lime Bikes. Captioning the post, Reddit user ldn6 said: "Lime Bikes are blocking entire pavements and side streets. This is getting ridiculous." Now, a debate between Londoners has seen many call the hire bikes a 'nuisance' and have described the parking situation as 'ridiculous'.

It is, but the issue is the users of them. 

Commenting on the Reddit post, many suggested that the bikes may create an issue for wheelchair and pram users, as one local said: "Between these and bins on the paths, you don't realise how bad it is until you have a pram.

Others suggested that the problem could be solved by fining Lime: "The bike companies should be fined.

"If you put the burden of fining poor users on the companies that run the bikes, they would soon find ways to be more responsible."

Good point, but why is no-one suggesting fining the users as well? They are traceable. 

A Lime spokesperson said: "We never want Lime’s e-bike to obstruct anyone’s journey and we recognise that one of the most significant challenges facing our industry is the issue of overcrowded parking bays.

"We are working behind the scenes with boroughs to help create more parking bays across London.

What are you doing about the users who ignore them, though? 

"We have a team of 250 people that help to move mis-parked bikes and clear overcrowded bays. We encourage the public to report instances of overcrowding so our team can quickly move and redistribute bikes.

And what penalties do the users of those 'misparked' bikes face? Is it nothing? It is, isn't it? 

"If our vehicles are causing a hazard or obstructing traffic, we aim to respond at pace, with the majority of vehicles moved within one hour of being reported."

Start charging a penalty charge for every obstructively parked vehicle, and you'll soon see a change. 

Parhaps A Name Change Is In Order?

Heaven nightclub has been shut down immediately after a bouncer was charged with raping a drunk woman who had been turned away from the venue. The world famous gay club had its licence suspended for 28 days following an emergency hearing at Westminster council on Friday.

Sound a lot like the Other Place. 

The woman said she was attacked by a bouncer on November 1 and was then “ignored” when she tried to report the assault to other club security staff, the meeting was told.

The expedited licensing review heard that detectives arrested the suspect at Heaven on November 11.

Subsequent enquiries showed that the arrested man was not permitted to work in the UK and may have “provided a false name to his employer in order to gain work”.

Morenikeji Adewole, 47, of Dunlop Close, Dartford – also known as Olu Julius or Olusolu Alabi – was charged with rape on Wednesday, the Met Police said.

Is there anyone in the security industry who can do a good job and appropriate due diligence, because it doesn't seem like it... 

Amy Lame, who was Sadiq Khan's night tsar until last month, appeared to disagree with the decision to revoke Heaven's licence. She wrote on Instagram: "Our community is being held to double standards, targeted by institutional homophobia and is the victim of legally questionable interpretation of licensing regulations. Let the battle commence."

They aren't shutting the place because it's full of irons, Amy, but because it's full of dodgy security staff and unsafe! I'd tell you to wind your neck in, but from photos, it appeard you don't have one. 

The Cousins Won’t Like This, Khan…

No separate entrances at the mosque for men and women, then? 

Combating the “pernicious influence” of misogynists such as Andrew Tate in primary schools is a vital part of teaching children about equality and respect, the mayor of London has told teachers. Sadiq Khan has written to every primary school in London urging them to counter the online misogyny of influencers such as Tate through new classes and workshops that are being set up across the capital as part of plans to tackle violence against women and girls.

Oh, of course. Ignoring the elephant in the room and declaring an Internet nobody Public Enemy No 1. How surprising...  

The mayor’s office has launched a £1m toolkit to help teachers counter dangerous messages from influencers after research revealed that one in three young males have a positive view of Tate, a self-proclaimed misogynist, and one in 10 children have watched pornography by the time they are nine. The toolkit, developed by the healthy relationships charity Tender, trains teachers how to run workshops, drama and interactive classroom sessions to teach nine- to 11-year-olds how to recognise and call out inequality and sexism.

And if they start calling it out when they are taught about Islam? What then? 

Susie McDonald, the chief executive of Tender, acknowledged that discussing gender inequality and healthy relationships could be difficult, but said primary school was a critical time for children to learn about communication, empathy and respect. “It’s imperative that children learn about healthy relationships and are supported to build positive attitudes and behaviours,” she said. “By challenging potentially problematic attitudes at their root, we can prevent a culture of abuse against women and girls.”

There's people banged up in jail at the behest of our lying coward  of a Prime Minister for doing exactly that, Susie.

More Green Spaces, Or Different, Safer Green Spaces?

Children in the UK urgently need more easy-to-access green space, according to the head of a sports charity calling on private schools to open up their grounds.

It seems Kieran Connolly hasn't seen a map of London, which is absolutely loaded with green spaces.

Connolly grew up in south-east London and played on the Catford Pitz pitches there before they were bought in 2011 by St Dunstan’s college. He said: “Pitz was a bit of a lifesaver for me, and I think many other young people. The gate was just open, you could go in and play. There was space for everybody. You’d go there, meet people, play matches, meet with your friends, spend hours there. They weren’t even locked, you just go there and play for free.” However, the £22,599-a-year independent school initially reserved the fields for sole use by its students. Connolly contacted councillors who were able to help him persuade the school to allow the charity to use its floodlit pitches once a week to provide football sessions for young people in Catford.

Was it the pitch that was wanted, or the safety and security of being somewhere other than any of those green spaces open to the public, I wonder? 

Since August last year, St Dunstan’s has given free access to Sports Fun 4 All for an hour every Monday after the school day ends. The school has also become more involved with local community groups, schools in and around Catford, and its latest partnership is with Chelsea FC, which will include hosting regular tournaments on the site for local state schools. And most recently, through a partnership with St Dunstan’s college, Lewisham council and the Westside Young Leaders Academy, the Lewisham Young Leaders Academy (LYLA) was established to help disadvantaged African, Caribbean and dual-heritage children aged eight to 18. The space is also opened up free of charge to local primary schools to use for their sports days.

I am getting a definite feel from between the lines that the main threat to African, Caribbean and dual-heritage children's enjoyment of sports in public spaces is other African, Caribbean and dual-heritage children in those public spaces, who haven't brought along footballs, but zombie knives and machetes...

While Connolly is grateful to now be able to run the sessions, he would love all children to have easy access to green space in the way private school students have. “It would be better if we had way more floodlit facilities and green spaces for these young people to play sport and football. We’re not here to make the next professional footballer. What we have done is given hundreds of young people access to a free space every single week that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to access.”

But then where would we build all the extra housing we apparantly need to accommodate this ever-growing 'community'? 

The Villain Of The Piece Isn’t Who You Think….

Hundreds of homeless families were permanently forced out of London by councils last year after many were given 24-hour ultimatums to either accept a private tenancy far away from the capital or be kicked out of temporary accommodation and left on the streets. The campaign group Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL) found that 319 households in 2023 accepted offers of a private tenancy outside London. They were often given 24 hours by council officials to accept homes out of the capital or risk making themselves “intentionally homeless” by refusing an offer.

Booo! Wicked Tories demanding value for money for the taxpayer! 

Well, no, actually... 

Five councils in the capital, which are all Labour-run, accounted for 74% of all out-of-London private discharges. Waltham Forest sent the most families outside London, relocating 67 out of 130 households outside the capital.Enfield was identified as the council sending families the furthest from their jobs, schools and support networks.

What a turn up for the books!  

One mother the Guardian spoke to in Enfield was given 24 hours to accept an offer of a private tenancy in Hartlepool in December, which she said she felt “forced and pressured” into accepting. The home the family were sent to was doors away from where a man was murdered last October.

And does no-one ever get murdered in Enfield?  

Then They Can't Really Be Called 'Families', Can They?

It is hard to put an exact number on it, but more than 60 families rely on us.

And what did your organisation do, then?

Eighty percent of the families and young people attending Homegrown in Tottenham are Black. Most of them come from working-class, migrant and refugee backgrounds, and face challenges around access to affordable housing and being pushed out of areas they live in due to rising costs. Our community space was a home for all of us. Before the closure, we would cook and share meals together, while young people would learn English, maths, science, and African and Caribbean history, and use films to discuss topics not always brought up in school. People would often stay all afternoon, cooking and talking.

Well, maybe that's the problem. Maybe instead, they should have been working to support their families..? 

In Haringey today, many Black-led community groups are losing space and struggling to access funding. At the same time, some parts of Tottenham have changed so quickly that they feel unfamiliar and inaccessible to young people who were born here, who end up feeling like strangers.

Yeah, funny that, I often feel like a stranger. In certain parts of London. 

But I'm called a racist for noticing. Never mind what I'm called for actively complaining about it. How is it you get a free pass? 

At the moment we have no funding, because we don’t have time to fundraise. I try to buy families their groceries when they need it out of my own pocket, but my own family’s budget is tight as well. Every two weeks, I have to report to the job centre to claim my universal credit.

Well, clearly they should put a stop to it. If you're giving it away to others, you're claiming it under false pretences, aren't you?  

What happened to Elianne Andam in Croydon is a reminder of just how vulnerable our young people are: the victims whose lives are so brutally taken, but the perpetrators too – how did they get here? And their families. No one should have their child taken from them. And no one raises a child to be a killer.

It appears in the 'community' you're writing about, no-one raises a child full-stop! 

We are not talking about an incurable disease. It is a social problem that could be improved if the government stopped removing essential funding for youth centres, youth organisations, schools and existing community spaces.

Why shouldn't it? It's clearly not essential at all.  

But It Doesn't Really "Apply To All Styles And Genres Of Music", Does It?

Last October, days before what would have been his biggest home town show yet, the chart-topping drill rapper Digga D posted a statement online. “I’m gutted to announce that my Brixton Academy show next week has been rescheduled for reasons beyond my control,” he wrote. “Without going into too much detail, you can probably guess why this might have happened.”

The detail that Digga omitted was that the Metropolitan police had spent the preceding weeks putting pressure on the venue – sponsored by O2 and operated by the Academy Music Group (AMG) – to pull the plug on the show.

And why? Well, Reader, I think we all know, don't we? 

The Met’s interest in Digga D, AKA Rhys Herbert, is well documented: in 2020, the Bafta-winning documentary Defending Digga D depicted his efforts to pursue a music career under the terms of a uniquely restrictive criminal behaviour order (CBO), which he is still under.

And still breaking...some people just can't learn, can they? 

The Met – which was found last month by an independent investigation, once again, to be institutionally racist – has an established history of interfering with Black music events in London.

We know, don't we, Reader, as on my blog it's been covered before.  

A central London nightclub owner who also asked to remain anonymous corroborated this experience. “It’s 696 by another name. It’s not a predesigned form, it’s a risk assessment that I have to provide to them. But both parties know exactly what I have to include, which is to state what style of music is playing. And both parties know that if that style of music is one that is preferred by people of colour, then the police will immediately say something like ‘whilst we would never tell you what events to put on, we regard this as high-risk and if anything should happen we will review your licence.’ Which is essentially them saying ‘we will close you down’.”

Good! A bit of pre-emptive action is to be welcomed. 

The Met said this approach “applies to all styles and genres of music”.

Heh! Yes, I'm sure it does. But it's not applied to all styles and genres, and we all know why... 

Digga is forbidden from rapping about certain topics and has to submit lyrics to the Met before releasing new tracks and videos. He was recalled to prison in 2019 for a breach of his CBO – inside, a stabbing left him partially sighted – and again in 2020 after pleading guilty to his role in a central London brawl where machetes were wielded.

That's why! 

Stop Talking, And Start Fining...

Officials have launched renewed talks with Deliveroo, JustEat and UberEats after a week-long operation saw 60 moped riders held for illegal working. Most of them have now been detained pending removal from the country.

Ah, the 'immigrants who are vital to our economy' again, I see... 

Follow-up searches uncovered two imitation guns, a machete and a telescopic baton, a Home Office spokesman said. Telescopic, or ‘friction-lock’, batons can be flicked out to use as a cosh, and are banned under offensive weapons laws.

The operation also found evidence that legitimate moped riders were sharing delivery jobs with acquaintances - usually by the WhatsApp messaging service - and allowing them to carry out the work, the spokesman added.

And what are the authorities doing to ensure these companies take steps to crack down on their employees? 

‘We are in conversations with the delivery app companies to try to improve their engagement with the rules on carrying our right to work checks,’ the spokesman said.

*sighs* 

By Lying, Dawn, Clearly....

Merton resident Dawn Spragg wrote in to ask why the council was not “actively engaging” with residents about ULEZ.

At the meeting, she asked a follow-up question, saying: “How are you as our elected members engaging with the people that elected you to advise them about the ULEZ that will be inflicted on our borough on August 29.”

The answer she got was not quite what she expected, it'd be fair ro say: 

Cabinet member for transport, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, claimed the scheme has cross-party support from Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour.

Oh, really? Reader, no. Not at all. 

This led to outrage from the leader of the Conservative group Councillor Nick McLean who said the Merton Tories oppose the expansion.

And when blatent lies won't shut up this pesky voter, what next? Take your ball and go home, of course! 

Ms Spragg’s question was one of four from the public on the ULEZ expansion. However, the other three questions were not discussed in the meeting.

When the Merton mayor, councillor Joan Henry tried to move on to the next item on the agenda she was heckled by those sitting in the public gallery, who included Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

It caused Ms Spragg to move to the microphone, where residents can speak at the meeting, to ask why the other questions were not being addressed.

Cllr Henry ordered Ms Spragg to move back to her seat but when her pleas were unsuccessful the meeting was adjourned.

Much as I hate to be on the same side as Corbyn's brother, this is not democracy.  

There's Something Toxic In London, All Right...

But it's not the air, it's something that rhymes with 'air'...

A scheme charging some motorists £12.50 a day to drive in London to cut air pollution has been accused of using data that is ‘complete nonsense’. In an open letter to those opposing his plans, Mr Khan said toxic air led to the premature deaths of 4,000 Londoners each year. He said: ‘Research by Imperial College London shows Bromley has the highest premature deaths linked to air pollution with an estimated 204 lives lost in 2019.’

Ah, really? 

But Bromley Council leader Colin Smith said the study commissioned by City Hall ‘chose to ignore Bromley’s much older population profile’.He said many elderly residents spent ‘their younger years in inner London experiencing the smogs and smoke-filled pubs of yesteryear’. He added: ‘It is complete nonsense.’

Like anything spouted by this jumped up little popinjay.  

Around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely every year as a result of poor quality air, with those in Outer London some of the most vulnerable due to their age and therefore hardest hit. ‘Sadiq refuses to sit back and do nothing when lives are being lost and urges these local authorities to support his plans to bring cleaner air to every Londoner - wherever they live in the capital.’

Then if you really believe this, why are you telling motorists 'It's OK, pay £12.50 and you can suffocate kiddies with your exhaust all day long!'..? 

Play Silly Games, Win Silly Prizes…

Tyler had three weeks earlier “caused upset to some very dangerous young men” by uploading a drill music track to YouTube, the court heard. Ms Carberry said the lyrics mocked, “in pretty vile terms”, Tanueh’s associates, in particular one member of the group who was stabbed, though not fatally.

And, following an unsuccessful armed attack just over two weeks before the fatal stabbing, Tyler “taunted the group” after he managed to escape unhurt, she told jurors.

Some people walk to their appointment in Samarra. Some people run. 

Some people, it seems, don't even need to leave the house any more, they can keep it via YouTube! 

Amateurs...

Eco-zealots are said to be planning to 'swarm and block' roundabouts in a fresh wave of action targeting road users, expected to take place during rush hour tomorrow.

You think you're causing chaos for motorists? 

You're tiddlers. Watch what a Great White does to motorists...

You Know What To Do Next Time...

Ashitha Nagesh has taken to Twitter to talk about how the accident caused a broken humerus (upper arm), which left her needing surgery.

Initially, a passer-by called 999, but left the reference number with the cyclist who hit Ashitha.

After the passer-by left the scene in Walthamstow, Ashitha was told to get in an Uber by the cyclist and went away to hospital without getting the cyclist's full details as she "wasn't thinking straight" and "wanted to get to A&E" as soon as possible.

Nobody called an ambulance because, well, they don't turn up any more... 

Ashitha is now appealing to the public for help after the Met Police has allegedly told her that they won't investigate the incident as "no one called the police at the scene".

However, they have apparently told Ashitha they will investigate if they get enough information about the cyclist from her.

At this stage, I'm only surprised A&E didn't ask her to splint her own broken arm. Does any emergency service do their job any more? 

The BBC News correspondent wrote on Twitter: "So this is a plea, on the off-chance anyone on here saw what happened or knows the guy who hit me last Thursday (Markhouse Road, E17, about 10.20), or saw him in the Co-op there, to please DM me!

"I asked the cyclists for their details and unfortunately all they told me was that their names were Joe and Sam. Don’t know if these are their real names but both are blonde, and the guy who hit me had a short beard. He also smelled [very] strongly of alcohol."

See, if you're a news correspondent, you should be well aware that to get the police on the case, what you should have done was claim the cyclist sexually abused you. Or racially abused you. Or if you wanted black marias and helicopters, misgendered you! 

It Would Be Interesting To Overlay This Map With The One About Putin's Nuclear Threat On The Capital...

...and see which one would do the most damage!

I fear it might not be the one showing the fallout from a nuclear strike...

London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) could be extended towards the Surrey border as efforts are made to reduce pollution and congestion in the city. Drivers of the most polluting vehicles could face a charge if they travel on part of the A3 or into Kingston, Richmond, Sutton and Croydon under the proposed expansion.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has asked Transport for London to consult on plans to expand the ULEZ for 2023. At the moment any vehicle that does not meet the European emission requirements must pay £12.50 per day to travel through any part of the designated ULEZ area.

£12.50 every time you take your car off the drive to go to Tesco. When does this madness ever stop?