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We shouldn’t have to pay BBC Licence Fee to listen to Gary Lineker

Aaron Fenton-Hewitt
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We shouldn’t have to pay BBC Licence Fee to listen to Gary Lineker
  • The BBC has suspended Gary Lineker from presenting Match of the Day, sparking a mass boycott by other presenters.
  • The former Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur striker was taken off air after the BBC deemed a tweet of his to be in breach of impartiality guidelines.
  • Lineker, 62, described the Conservative Party’s policy on stopping boats carrying illegal migrants as “an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”.
  • Other MOTD presenters, such as record Premier League scorer Alan Shearer and former Arsenal forward Ian Wright, have since refused to present the show until and unless Lineker is reinstated.

BBC’s past has come back to haunt them

The BBC were correct to suspend Gary Lineker. His comments clearly violate the BBC’s guidelines.

As a state broadcaster, the BBC have an obligation to be as impartial as possible. There was a time when BBC journalists were considered to be at the very top of their craft, with the BBC providing impartial and unbiased news reports.

This situation certainly highlights the fragile and symbiotic relationship between the broadcaster and the contractor. If either party refuses to keep their side of the bargain, trouble ensues.

To many people, Gary Lineker is the face of the BBC but, ultimately, the BBC played a part in that. It has a reputation to maintain. Impartiality means impartiality.

If Lineker can’t or won’t adhere to their rules, it stands to reason there would be a consequence.

However, their track record of maintaining their impartiality has come under fierce criticism in recent years. The BBC have been accused of becoming more favourable towards left-leaning attitudes towards current affairs.

An example many could point to is last year during the World Cup. The BBC was more than willing to allow Lineker and other presenters to criticise Qatar, in regards to LGBT+ rights in particular, but have an issue when it comes to criticism of the UK government.

Had they been consistent with their impartiality regulations over recent years, there could be no accusations of hypocrisy or favouritism levelled against them.

This is why, to many, it looks as if the BBC is being selective with their editorial practices, which undermines its own impartiality rules.

It’s the reason why so many people back Lineker; not necessarily because of what he said, but the general principle of his right to express a biased opinion without consequence on the BBC.

Either the BBC is impartial to everyone, or it’s not.

What happens now?

The BBC is in talks with Lineker about his social media use. It has already broadcasted MOTD, which lasted just twenty minutes, without commentary or punditry analysis due to Lineker’s colleagues refusing to work in solidarity.

Lineker, if reports are to be believed, is expected to be reinstated by the time the next MOTD airs.

However, it is also thought that this situation does call into question the survival of the license fee itself.

If the BBC does decide to reinstate Lineker, it will appear to many that a BBC representative can make clearly biased comments without consequence. It would be a watershed moment in broadcasting.

Without impartiality, the license fee becomes untenable.

Is the right press wrong about Shamima Begum?

Georgia Gilholy
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Is the right press wrong about Shamima Begum?

Former ISIS bride Shamima Begum is one of the most recognisable, and disliked, people in Britain. That is, known to Britain, rather than in it. 

The Bethnal Green-born teenager voluntarily left the UK to join ISIS in 2015 and is currently being held in a Kurdish-controlled detention centre in northeast Syria. She and 100s of other European ex-ISIS members have been abandoned to an already vulnerable region attempting to rebuild from years of devastation and in some cases genocide. The US State Department and the UN continue to warn that these facilities are probable hotbeds of renewed radicalisation.

Mere weeks ago US intervention thwarted an attempted mass breakout from a nearby prison under fire from ISIS.

A recent YouGov survey concluded that well over half (53 per cent) of British adults thought Begum was a risk to national security. They are right to do so. She turned her allegiance to a genocidal terror group past the age of criminal responsibility.

To the casual observer, it often feels as if she has been granted far more publicity than the victims of the group she joined, which includes swathes of Muslim civilians, Yazidi school girls enslaved and burned in cages and beheaded Christians. Her attempt to rebrand herself into something of a dressed-down YouTuber clad in a baseball cap and sportswear to make yet another insincere apology a la James Charles has failed to make people forget the horrors she was complicit in.

Credit: ITV

Lest we forget that the teen’s flight to ISIS in 2015 came after a year in which the group were found to have been behind around 6000 deaths via terrorist attack across the world. She knew exactly what kind of civilisation she was signing up to.

Yet was then Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s decision to strip Begum of her citizenship in 2019 the correct move?

While many believe returning Begum to the UK would be the “soft option”, surely it could function as a restatement of confidence in our justice system, and its grounding in principles, which distinguish us from the Islamist Caliphate Begum was seduced by. 

The decision of the US, France, Germany and Australia to try their own homegrown ISIS fighters at home suggests its justice system, while remaining bitterly divided by politics, possesses a muscular self-assurance the UK is now too embarrassed and weak to attempt. 

Those in these camps need to be returned home to face justice rather than risk being re-released into open warfare. Surely the UK must face this reality rather than trying to score short-term political points by stripping a justifiably disliked figure such as Begum of her citizenship. 

Reformed Islamists?

In the US, Canada, India and in Britain itself, many genuinely reformed Islamist extremists have even been involved in efforts to educate and warn, particularly young people, about the dangers of extremism and how they may be tempted into it. Such schemes have been particularly widespread in India which is home to over 172 million Muslims and where religious conflict remains a risk.

While Ms Begum’s apparent dishonesty, flagrant lack of remorse, and alleged violation of various British and International Laws would rule her out of the high school assembly circuit, others of her ilk may well be able to offer UK intelligence and the wider public key information about how to prevent the vicious circle of hate.

Another way of tackling the very real threat of homegrown Islamist extremism in Britain is ensuring suspects face a functioning trial by jury. Her failed appeals aside, thus far Begum has merely faced the court of public-and government- opinion. The best conclusion to this long-running debacle for the UK’s reputation, Begum, and the Kurdish society currently hosting her would be returning her citizenship and allowing her to face real justice.

How companies hide their environmental impact through greenwashing

Common Sense Contributors
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How companies hide their environmental impact through greenwashing

Environmental awareness is on the up. We are now more conscious than ever before of the impact we have on the planet, which is undoubtedly a good thing. Unfortunately, some companies seem willing to cover up their environmentally harmful practices with misleading advertising rather than making a real change.

For example, Tesco was rebuked by the Advertising Standards Authority after it failed to show that its Plant Chef burgers and plant protein-based foods were more environmentally friendly than the meat versions, as it seemed to claim in its marketing.

Earlier, the ASA sanctioned alternative milk companies Alpro and Oatly. The ASA investigated five claims made by Oatly after receiving 109 complaints, resulting in ad bans and a warning to substantiate any future claims.

Similarly, Alpro, another free-from-milk brand, also felt the full force of the ASA’s fury when it broke the rules on greenwashing. Almond milk brand Alpro was warned by the ASA to exercise greater care around its environmental claims. This was regarding a poster that ran on the side of a bus from October 2020. The claims read, ‘Next stop, your recipe to a healthier planet!’ and on the other side, ‘Good for the planet, good for you.’

Some of the biggest examples of greenwashing are “no palm oil” and “palm oil free” products. Over the years, these claims and labelling have misled consumers to believe that “no palm oil” and “palm oil free” products are better than products with sustainable palm oil. In many cases, consumers fail to understand what alternative is used in the product and if the product is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than products with sustainable palm oil.

Daniel Rosenkranz

The “palm oil free” claim is misleading for consumers. It leads them into believing that “free from” products are necessarily better for their health and the environment than those “with”. According to a study by Italian consumer group For Free Choice Institute, which analysed a range of 96 food products, “palm oil free” products were higher in saturated fats and less sustainable.

The corporate attacks on palm oil are especially bizarre. The claim from many brands seems to be that by avoiding using palm oil, they are helping save the planet, especially when it comes to stopping deforestation and protecting the natural habitats of orangutans.

However, all the research in this area shows that palm oil is the most land-efficient of all the major vegetable oils on offer to those companies, so switching away from it and instead picking another vegetable oil to use as an ingredient will actually have a net negative effect in the planet and fuel deforestation even further, because you have to cut down a lot more trees to get the same amount of end product.

Widespread environmental awareness is a good start, but that is not enough to reverse the harmful effects of our impact on the planet, such as climate change and deforestation. Trying to trick consumers by slapping a “palm oil free” label on their packaging is not enough, and consumers are beginning to realise that, as well as regulatory authorities. The walls are closing in on greenwashing.

Jason Reed is a political commentator, writing and talking about politics and policy for a wide range of outlets. Follow him on Twitter @JasonReed624 or read more on his website, jason-reed.co.uk

FIFA needs a backbone, and here’s why

Aaron Fenton-Hewitt
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FIFA needs a backbone, and here’s why

Organisations are all too happy to say the right things, but quickly crumble when money gets involved. FIFA is just the latest example of companies being prepared to say the right things but not DO the right things.

  • Sparta Prague midfielder Jakub Jankto came out as gay earlier this week, making him the first active senior international in men’s football to do so
  • FIFA tweeted a message of support to Jankto, which backfired as people scolded FIFA for allowing Qatar to host the last World Cup, in which LGBT rights are non-existent and actually criminalised
  • Sparked debate as to whether or not organisations actually care about certain causes/plights, or if they are simply virtue-signalling to protect profit

Hypocrisy at its worst

If there was ever an example of an organisation caught in hypocrisy, this is it. This is a demonstration of companies not genuinely caring about social issues, but simply pretending to care to protect their revenue streams.

To be clear, FIFA is loyal to whoever pays them the most. The World Cup held in Qatar last year is a testament to this, as FIFA went out of its way to respect Qatar’s anti-LGBT laws and culture.

FIFA threatened to sanction individual players and national teams if they wore the pro-LGBT ‘One Love’ armband. They upheld a ban on spectators wearing clothing with rainbow flags entering stadiums. They supported Qatar’s decision to deport a pitch invader holding a rainbow flag.

This was all in December 2022. Just two months later in February 2023, they ‘support’ Jankto coming out as gay. This is blatant hypocrisy, obviously, but deeper questions lie at the core of this conundrum.

Does FIFA genuinely care about LGBT rights and other social issues? Why does FIFA say one thing and then do another?

FIFA supports Jankto coming out despite hosting the last World Cup in an anti-LGBT country

To answer the former, probably not. To answer the latter, it comes down to one thing; money. Al Jazeera reported that FIFA made a record $7.5 billion from the Qatar edition of the World Cup, $1 billion more than the previous edition in Russia.

FIFA, like other businesses, are loyal to whoever pays them the most.

They’re happy to support social issues when there’s no money at stake – such as in cases like Jakub’s – but that quickly disappears when there’s money to be made and lost.

It shows that morals, ethics and social responsibility are for sale. It demonstrates that FIFA does not have the strength of character to have a non-negotiable, core set of values that cannot be bought.

For a lot of football fans, that’s simply not good enough.

What now?

Jankto has been generally supported by the global football community.

England Lionesses captain and Arsenal midfielder Leah Williamson says the team ‘wants to stand in solidarity’ with Jankto by continuing to wear the One Love armband during matches leading up to the Women’s World Cup this year.

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes, amongst other footballers, showed his support for Jankto online.

Jendaya raises funding to take its Africa-focused luxury e-commerce platform worldwide

Mike Omoniyi
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Jendaya raises funding to take its Africa-focused luxury e-commerce platform worldwide

JENDAYA is a luxury fashion retailer delivering the best edit of diverse designers to a global audience. The curation of JENDAYA designers spans continents and includes a harmonious mix of big-label luxury brands alongside insider secrets.

Shining a light on the growing prowess of African and African diaspora luxury brands, their buying power and trendsetting ability, London-based e-commerce player JENDAYA launches are coming out of pilot mode after closing its £1m pre-seed round.

The London-based but Africa-focused platform was founded by CEO Ayotunde Rufai, who had the idea to start Jendaya after repeatedly acting as a personal shopper for luxury items in the U.K. for relatives back in Nigeria. Other co-founders include COO Kemi Adetu, CCO Teni Sagoe, and CSO David Elikwu; split across London, New York and Lagos, they launched Jendaya in December 2021.

From apparel to beauty and from home decor to accessories, Jendaya aims to bridge the continent’s heritage with high-end consumers worldwide, shining a light on the abundance of talent and storytelling emanating from the region, by positioning African names seamlessly in the same league as seasoned western labels such as Issey Miyake, Lanvin and Givenchy. Well-poised to satiate the growing appetite for African goods, Jendaya is expected to solidify its position as a crucial market player by providing a lucrative route for international luxury companies into Africa with its nuanced operational understanding of transforming and empowering African luxury brands into successful online businesses. A truly global offering.

Source: JENDAYA

According to data from Euromonitor International, the luxury goods market in Africa and the Middle East was valued at $35.48 billion in 2019, with designer apparel and footwear alone generating $7.2 billion at retail

They told Common Sense, “We are looking forward to putting a permanent spotlight on the unique craftsmanship of African fashion whilst empowering local African artisans and manufacturers. As well as contributing to the sustainable growth and economic development of emerging brands and highlighting Africa, not only as a powerhouse for raw materials but as an exporter of high-quality fashion.”

Sitting alongside the e-commerce is the fully shoppable JENDAYA Editorial, an area that showcases not only the brands stocked through the platform but key historical and seasonal news set to inspire an international audience and now JENDAYA Labs – it’s 360 creative agency that counts the likes of Casablanca, Ozwald Boateng, Paul Smith and Burberry to name a few as clients.

For its launch, Jendaya has teamed up with Parisian creative agency Bel-Ami to craft a bespoke campaign encapsulating the brand’s values and vision entitled: ‘Jendaya, The New Home of Fashion’, starting in Nigeria from December 20th, it will then hit the streets of Paris, New York and London during 2022’s fashion weeks thanks to a polymorphic approach. “Jendaya is the ultimate bridge to discover the new generation of African designers and to reach millions of African consumers with the most well-known brands,” says Thomas Mondo, founder of Bel-Ami.

With an ethos that supports slow fashion, artisan craft, made-to-order luxury goods and emerging talent, Jendaya hosts a roster of brands that includes Brooklyn-based minimalist accessories brand Marty Moto and others that incorporate heritage into a modern context like Kenyan brand Adele Dejak. Other stand-out brands include Beninese-French silk shirt label Alledjo and burgeoning names such as Casablanca, founded by Morrocan designer Charaf Tajer, finalist of the 2020 LVMH Prize.

Black Boy Lane: £190k wasted on white guilt?

Aaron Fenton-Hewitt
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Black Boy Lane: £190k wasted on white guilt?
  • Haringey Council has come under fire for spending close to £190,000 on renaming a road due to ‘racial connotations and colonial links’.
  • The former name of the road, Black Boy Lane, was changed in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, with social justice campaigners pushing for change.

Black Boy Lane in N15 was renamed La Rose Lane following ‘calls from Haringey residents’, Haringey Council said. La Rose Lane is named after John La Rose, a former black Haringey resident, poet and political activist.

The history of the name of the road is widely debated and its origins aren’t clear.

Some speculate that it was an after-effect of the impact that slavery had on race relations against black people in British history, whilst others believe it was named after young chimney sweepers in the 18th and 19th centuries.

https://twitter.com/OliviaOWrites/status/1617550536194105344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1617550536194105344%7Ctwgr%5Ec1d26fb06e83fd560072cf7222ffb05b093492b7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fblack-boy-lane-renamed-offensive-186k%2F
Residents of Black Boy Lane put up signs of the road name, in protest at the name change

It is estimated that the name change would cost the taxpayer approximately £186,000.

Despite this, not only were many residents actually against the idea of renaming the road but the family of John La Rose himself were also opposed, the Daily Mail reported.

Resident Anne Taylor said, ‘The La Rose family issued a statement forbidding the use of La Rose name to rename Black Boy Lane.’

‘They said it was a tokenistic gesture at too great a cost for Black Boy Lane residents and that John la Rose would have hated the notion.’

The council has been criticised heavily, with some likening it to a ‘vanity project’, especially in a cost of living crisis.

Founder of Save our Statues (a heritage campaigner group) Robert Poll said, ‘This move is representative of the current impulse to hunt out racism and offence where there is none as a performative display of virtuousness.’

A vanity project

If there was ever a demonstration of white guilt in action, this is it.

This was a move not based upon genuine concerns about racism, but based on pure vanity and fear from anti-racist groups.

Save our Statues reported that not only did no black people voted for the name change, but 78% of residents of Black Boy Lane voted against the move. In fact, there were more white people that voted for the name change than black people.

If the name change concerned black people, one would be forgiven for believing that the ‘black’ opinion would carry more weight in discussions. However, this does not seem to be the case.

So, what other reasons could there be for this name change?

It does make one wonder as to what ‘fighting racism’ really means in today’s society. Is it about genuine and legitimate concerns about racial inequality, or is it about virtue signalling and satisfying the egos of certain people?

Is it about addressing the past, or is it ideologically motivated?

The statistics show that black residents were against the name change. If black residents aren’t offended by the name change, then who is? Why do they get to speak and be offended on behalf of black people?

The irony of this is that those who do act in a manner where they feel entitled to speak on behalf of black people are acting in a more racist manner than they’d care to admit.

They are, in effect, cheapening the black voice. They are implying that their white guilt, and all the misplaced emotions that come with it, supersede actual black voices and perspectives.

To many, this isn’t about fighting racism. This is about certain groups feeling better about themselves.

Save our Statues reported that no black residents voted for the name change

White guilt is expensive

The Office for National Statistics reported that inflation is at an all-time high, as of December 2022.

The UK is in a cost-of-living crisis, with many having to choose between food and central heating. To put it plainly, there’s not enough money to go around.

In that case, where did the council find £186,000? Could that money have been put to better use? Are there Haringey residents with lower incomes who could have benefited from that money?

Specifically, in the name of being ‘anti-racist’, were there any black residents that could have benefitted?

The council have unfortunately shot themselves in the foot. In their desperation to appease campaign and pressure groups, they have created a PR disaster.

To spend £186,000 on a name change is irresponsible. In this economic climate, every penny counts. It’s foolish and nonsensical to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on what is little more than a vanity project.

This money could have easily been put towards food banks, which many families rely on.

That money could’ve been put to better use actually helping black people who are less well off, in the name of actually addressing racial inequality. The government reports that black households were the most likely to have a weekly income of less than £600, compared to other ethnic groups.

The fact that this money was used for other purposes is a slap in the face to them. In no way does this name change help black people, in this climate.

In fact, it could be argued that this episode of reckless spending constitutes fraud. If Haringey Council wishes to ‘address inequality and celebrate the rich diversity of [the] borough, then it has failed at both.

The new road sign, up for less than 24 hours (at the time of writing), has already been vandalised in protest

What now?

The backlash to the name change is still ongoing.

Haringey Council has said that, for the next year, the road will continue to be known as Black Boy Lane until such time as registration of the new name has been completed, to allow for infrastructure to adapt.

The road sign has already been vandalised, with vandals spray painting over ‘La Rose Lane’ to leave ‘formerly Black Boy Lane’.

Here is how the war in Ukraine could end

Zohaib Sadiq
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Here is how the war in Ukraine could end

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been vigorously promoting a 10-point peace plan, which he drew up in November 2022, for resolving the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine. The plan entails measures to improve humanitarian conditions, increase geographical security and promote sustainable economic development in the region. 

What are Zelensky’s 10 points?

  1. Nuclear Safety – restoring security around Zaporizhahia, Ukraine, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant which is now Russian occupied. 
  2. Food – protecting grain exports to the world’s poorest nations 
  3. Energy security – aiding Ukraine in restoring its power infrastructure 
  4. Release of prisoners/deportees – including war prisoners/children deported to Russia 
  5. Restoring Ukrainian territorial integrity – “not up to negotiations” according to Zelensky 
  6. Withdrawal of Russian troops and restoration of state border 
  7. Establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute war crimes
  8. Protection of the environment – including demining and restoring water treatment facilities
  9. Building security architecture in the Euro-Atlantic space
  10. Confirmation of the war’s end – documentation signed by involved parties 


What does this mean?

Central to the plan is the establishment of a “special status” for designated areas in Eastern Ukraine affected by the war, granting them decision-making power. Such a policy is intended to address grievances held by the pro-Russian separatists in the region, many of whom have been fighting again the Ukrainian state since 2014.

Secondary to this is the creation of a “security zone” along the lines of contact between Ukraning and Russian forces; this zone, akin to a noman’s land – would be monitored by an international peacekeeping force, aiming to reduce violence and ensure civilian safety and territorial integrity.

The conflict has claimed over 13,000 lives and displaced over 1.5 million people – many to other parts of the European continent, including Poland, the Balkans, South Europe and the UK. For this reason, the improvement of humanitarian conditions is paramount, including access to effective health care and restoration of civilian infrastructure.

Unnamed Road, Ivano-Frankivs’ka oblast, Ukraine (Unsplash)

Further to this, the plan calls for meaningful and comprehensive dialogue between Ukraine and Russia – the goal entailing finding a lasting and peaceful solution to the conflict which has claimed thousands of lives. 

Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan is an all-encompassing and certainly ambitious proposal that aims to address the layered issues at the centre of the Ukrainian conflict. There is no telling how the plan with be implemented practically – it does however offer a beacon of hope for the Ukrainian people and a potential path forward for resolving the ongoing war. 

A glaring issue with the plan is the necessity of cooperation with Putin’s Russia – a stubborn and ruthless leader determined to ‘reclaim’ Ukraine and Russian pride, having annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. More so, internal challenges present resistance to progress, including slowness in implementing reforms and a lack of meaningful results in the peace process to date. This is understandable given the attacks Ukraine has been facing for the past 11 months. 

President Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan for Eastern Ukraine presents a comprehensive approach to resolving the ongoing conflict. It addresses the key issues at stake, including autonomy, security, humanitarian aid, and economic development. However, its success will depend on the willingness of all parties involved to come to the negotiating table and to find a lasting and peaceful solution.

What’s next for Mendy as he faces a retrial?

Aaron Fenton-Hewitt
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What’s next for Mendy as he faces a retrial?

Manchester City fullback Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty on six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against four young women.

His friend, Louis Saha Matturie, was also found not guilty of three counts of rape against three teenage girls.

Jurors at Chester Crown Court could not reach verdicts on six counts of rape and one of sexual assault, with a retrial to take place for a further count of rape in September.

Mendy, now 28, and Matturie, now 41, were accused of raping women at Mendy’s home in Cheshire, and at a flat in Manchester, in 2021. Both men pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Mendy was first arrested in November 2020, and suspended by Manchester City in August 2021 after being charged with rape.

The court heard that Mendy’s life in football was ‘over’, as he ‘would never escape’ the accusations.

Writing for BBC News, north of England correspondent Nick Garnett said that Mendy would ‘struggle to shake the image portrayed of him in court – a sex-mad, out-of-control, multi-millionaire.’

Mendy found not guilty on six counts of rape. Video credit: Evening Standard

Football culture needs to reform

Due process is a fundamental aspect of law. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty is a legal principle that has been upheld for decades in Western society.

Article 6 of the Human Rights Act 1988 provides UK citizens with the right to a fair trial. In addition to this, the fundamental right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty is an International Human Right under Article 11 of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This does require an element of faith in the legal justice system. We, as citizens, are expected to have confidence in our system and trust that justice is served to the full extent of the law.

With this being said, there is an uncomfortable truth that cannot be ignored regarding football culture, both in the UK and abroad.

it seems as if footballers are, on the whole, untouchable. Several footballers have been accused by women of rape and sexual assault, yet rarely are any of them found guilty.

Mendy is not the first footballer to be accused of sexual misconduct and not face any legal consequences.

PSG and Brazil forward Neymar was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2019. The resulting lawsuit was put on hold due to ‘lack of proof’.

In 2017 German media outlet Der Spiegel published a rape allegation by a woman named Kathryn Mayorga (and a subsequent out-of-court settlement) against former Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

Arsenal and Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was publicly accused of rape by a Twitter user. Although unnamed, several newspapers reported that ‘a Premier League footballer is no longer under investigation for rape’.

Many would argue that due process took its course in their respective court cases, but one would be forgiven for smelling a rat. They can’t ALL be innocent, surely?

What are the odds?

Power corrupts

It is possible that all three of the aforementioned footballers were accused falsely by their alleged victims.

However, due to movements such as #metoo there has been a shift in society’s social and political climate, where people in positions of power and influence – particularly men – are held to account for their actions against women.

Sexual crimes are not the only things that footballers have been convicted of and seemingly got off ‘scot-free’.

In 2011, Chelsea fullback Marcos Alonso was the driver in an accident that killed a young woman, having been driving at over twice the speed limit and – crucially – with a blood alcohol content level of 0.93 mg/mL. This resulted in a €61,000 fine and a driving ban.

Former Barcelona forward Lionel Messi had a tax fraud charge – which usually carries a prison sentence – changed to a fine of €252,000.

With all these cases, it does paint a picture of footballers being in a sort of untouchable class of people. Crimes that are committed by them have simply been brushed aside

A regular, everyday person who crashed their car whilst under the influence of alcohol and killed a person would rightfully be charged with death by dangerous driving and/or manslaughter.

A mere accusation of rape/sexual assault against a person would be enough to irreparably damage the lives and reputation of a person, yet Partey is still playing for Arsenal and Ronaldo has now become the highest-paid player in the world.

Many see these things as a demonstration of a corrupt element of football culture and influence. It seems footballers can get away with murder – figuratively and literally – if they’re high-profile enough.

What now?

Benjamin Mendy, at the time of writing, still has two other charges to deal with, although it looks likely he will escape any further punishment.

His contract at Manchester City expires in June 2023, with the club unlikely to offer an extension due to his unfitness and for PR reasons, due to the nature of the accusations.

In fact, many consider his football career to be over due to this situation, at least in England; it’s possible he could continue his career abroad or back in his native France.

Oriana Jemide: “Art is a form of therapy”

Mike Omoniyi
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Oriana Jemide: “Art is a form of therapy”

Oriana Jemide is a multidisciplinary creative working within visual arts and creative writing. Her work focuses on developing sensory architectural and landscape sets through combining multiple mediums including painting, sculpture, photography and sound.

As part of our last edition of The Detail, we sat down with her to hear about how she uses art for therapy.

How are you using art as a tool for change?

This is always a tricky question to answer. It’s like when I get asked to summarise what I do in one sentence. There are a few ways I use art as a tool for change, and I always want to talk about them. I think I will start with my work as an artist, moving through the art world with my practice which is one piece, and then the organisations I’m building to create what I consider to be more tangible change is what I will land with.

As a Black female artist of Nigerian heritage who actually grew up in Nigeria, I feel there is an expectation of the sort of artist I am to be, especially in terms of what I create. My decision to go against the grain is a tool for change. Most Nigerian artists and generally Black artists, at least the ones who have commercial success, are often portrait artists whose work has a very African identity or sociopolitical element. Industry experts have often told me there is no market for Black landscape artists and I will sell more if I paint portraits.

Although I have painted portraits in the past, I consider myself more of a landscape and textile painter. That is the work that feels more meaningful to make. I want my work to serve as a form of healing, and to me, there is nothing more healing than the beauty of our surroundings and our relationship with them. I see my choice to stick to the style of work I make as a way of changing the narrative around Black art and what is considered black art worthy of recognition and success. I see it as carving out a path for other Black artists and creatives to do original and supported work.

Art goes beyond just pictures and objects that people like to look at and touch but can create more meaning in their lives. My company, “The Medela school,” is a visual arts platform that provides educational and well-being support through art classes and workshops. At its core, the Medela School focuses on the intersection of creativity, community, education, and well-being, with visual art being its conduit. For me, there is this big piece on the tangible and measurable impact art has on people’s everyday lives as a way to change the narrative of its value.

What is The Medela School? How is this initiative intertwined with your creativity?

We describe ourselves as “the community where everyone is an artist.” We are passionate about creating greater accessibility to visual arts to promote joy and learning for every individual who encounters our work.

We see ourselves as building an ecosystem where art is considered essential, not an extracurricular activity. Through our skill-based art classes and therapeutic art workshops, we hope to transform society’s view on the value of visual art, making it something everyone can be a part of.

This project came from my desire to create tangible change through art. It is one thing to produce artwork that promotes healing but another to empower others to experience healing for themselves through art.

I’ve always known that I wanted people to share my art and feel healed, but at some point, that was not enough. I wanted to take it a step further, and creating “The Medela School” was that step.

Is art a form of therapy?

The simple answer is yes. Research reveals that art can be a great way to identify symptoms of mental health conditions as it captures the true, raw emotions of an individual.

Additionally it is sometimes used as an alternative to talking therapy for those who struggle with expressing themselves verbally. It helps individuals process their emotions in a way that becomes coherent to them and those trying to support them.

Medela School” was that step.

What does the future hold for The Medela School?

The goal of “The Medela School” is to provide access to visual art for everyone, whether it’s them using it as a form of therapy or nurturing their artistic skills. We hope anyone will see that it is something they can be a part of.

So our mission is to try out all the ways we can make that happen. For now, it looks like physical communities gathering to make art regardless of age, gender, or race. We are focused on the community element of our work at the moment.

In the future, we aim to extend our reach by moving online. We have plans for an online platform so that anyone from anywhere can access the practice of making art, build their artistic knowledge, and see its value in improving their lives, especially their well-being.

We hope to one day own an arts and well-being center that will house all the services we provide first in the UK, with hopes to open up in other countries. Finally, we hope to develop a model, an accredited curriculum that organisations can adopt to explore the need for visual art in everyday life.

How does your Initiative Inspire others to explore your art form?

In terms of encouraging people to explore visual art, we pride ourselves on meeting people where they are. Whether they are complete novices or budding artists, we hope that we can provide each individual with tools to take them to the next stage of their journey.

People often ask why not provide one service, art as a skill or art as well-being? In my five years of teaching and facilitating art, I’ve found that the two are closely interlinked, and having a holistic approach allows people to reap the full benefit.

I’ve come to observe that those who explore art for their well-being enjoy it so much that they become interested in developing it as a skill and vice versa. We don’t want to leave any stone unturned.

Just how powerful is Xi Jinping?

Mike Omoniyi
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Just how powerful is Xi Jinping?

In 2022, Time Magazine called Xi Jinping ‘The Most Powerful Person in the World’ however how true is this claim?

Many people still assume the U.S. President is the most powerful person in the world. But times have changed. In recent years we have observed two parallel developments: the President of the United States has lost power while the President of China has gained it.

Who is Xi Jinping?

Xi Jinping is the political leader of China. Among all the positions he’s holding, he’s probably holding dozens of positions right now, but there are three that are the most important.  

First, he’s the president of China. This means that he’s the head of the state. He gets to meet with other heads of state, for example, Queen Elizabeth or the President of the United States. But in China, this is a symbolic position, which doesn’t come with a lot of power.  

Second, he’s the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. This means that he’s the boss of the party. This is more powerful than for example, his counterpart in the U.S., which for example, is the chairman of the Republican National Committee, which doesn’t have a lot of power, but in China, if you’re the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, you get to make decisions not only for the party but also for the whole country.  

The third thing, which is the most powerful among all, is the chairman of the Central Military Affairs Commission. This means that he’s the commander in chief in China, who is in charge of China’s military. In addition to these formal positions, he’s also a princeling, which means that he’s the son of one of the founding fathers of the People’s Republic of China. His father, Xi Zhongxun, was a colleague of Mao Zedong’s and also a high-ranking official in the 1950s, 1960s. So Xi Jinping has this formal power coming from his formal positions, but also, he has this charisma, this legacy from his father who was one of the founders.  

What about on the world stage?

In addition to his role within the CCP, Xi Jinping also has a significant influence on the international stage. China is the world’s second-largest economy and a major player in global politics and economics. As President of China, Xi Jinping has the ability to shape the direction of the country’s foreign policy and to negotiate with other world leaders on behalf of China.

Xi Jinping and Mohammed bin Salman at the Chinese president’s welcoming ceremony in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Dec. 8, 2022. BANDAR AL-JALOUD / AFP

Xi Jinping has also consolidated his power within the Chinese government through a series of measures aimed at strengthening the CCP’s control over society and the economy. These measures include the expansion of censorship and the suppression of dissent, as well as the introduction of new laws and regulations that give the CCP greater control over areas such as technology, media, and the internet.

Today, Xi has surpassed his goal of becoming the new Mao. In November 2021, the Communist Party’s Central Committee passed a resolution “resolutely upholding Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole.” It was only the third time that the Party’s Central Committee had passed a resolution about the Party’s own history. The document mentions Xi’s predecessors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao once; the great reformer Deng Xiaoping, who was responsible for the economic transformation of China and made it a rich country, six times; and Mao Zedong eighteen times. And Xi Jinping? Twenty-four times. The resolution does not put Xi on a par with Chairman Mao—he’s elevated above him.

The elusive leader

What’s very astonishing is that, although Xi Jinping has so much power, people in the West know almost nothing about him: how he was born into the family of one of the highest leaders of the People’s Republic—and then experienced a terrible crash. How he was tortured and exiled during Mao’s Cultural Revolution—and still became a staunch Mao supporter. That his wife Peng Liyuan is a highly talented singer, as famous in China as Jennifer Lopez or Beyoncé is in the U.S. The amazing fact is that his father was a friend of the Dalai Lama and the Uyghurs while Xi Jinping oppresses non-Chinese ethnic groups. He is the first among 1.4 billion people. If not among 7.7 billion.

In summary, Xi Jinping is a powerful figure both within China and on the global stage. His control over the CCP and the Chinese government, as well as his influence on international affairs, make him a key player in the world system.

05 – The Detail: Creativity, a tool of change

Mike Omoniyi
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05 – The Detail: Creativity, a tool of change

Guest Editor: Fleur Boya

The dictionary defines creativity as the use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness – but it’s so much more than that. Creativity is the driving force that allows ordinary people to bring something powerful to life for a greater purpose. Creativity is a tool to convey a message, a tool for change.

As an oil painter, I use portraiture to achieve a range of things – to tell stories, raise awareness, fight injustice, engage in activism and promote the rights of the oppressed. This and many other messages can be amplified through several other creative means.

Photography immortalises special moments, fashion conveys a message through style, poetry uses the power of words to tug on our heartstrings and paintings help us to reimagine the world in new ways. Creativity has no floor or ceiling, no limitations or rules, no beginning and certainly no end. It has no look or appearance – all it has is a message.

So knowing that creativity has the power to provoke our thoughts and feelings – why not use it as a tool to drive change? Why not dig deep and harness control of our imagination to achieve a greater goal? Justice, peace, education, awareness, healing.

The aim of this month’s issue is to spotlight incredible people from all parts of the creative spectrum and inspire you to harness your own creativity and use it as a much-needed weapon of change.

Here’s The Detail.

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Ben Bailey Smith: Letter to my 6-year-old self

Marcel Brown
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Ben Bailey Smith: Letter to my 6-year-old self

As part of our BLACK British edition The Detail which you can read now, we asked actor Ben Bailey Smith to write a letter to his younger self, reflecting on his career so far.

I know. Trust me, I know

You’re only 6 years old and it seems overwhelming, but I know you’re excited too. It’s Christmas 1983, hard to reflect back on a year when you’re so young, but what a year. You had one of your most profound experiences this summer – your first-ever visit to a cinema. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi too! Wow. Back in January, some old man shouted “Dirty little half-caste n**r!” at you in a North London park, now you’re travelling through space at hyper speed, visiting different planets, watching an epic story unfold in a distant galaxy, right before your eyes. How long ago and far, far away that scary moment in January felt as your eyebrows raised at that screen

And somehow, despite fearing that baddie in the park, you were strangely drawn to the baddie in the movie. The mysterious, faceless man in black with a little b and a deep, booming voice that sounded Black with a capital B

I know. I remember the astonishment, the bittersweet reveal of his face at the end. Bittersweet because he wasn’t brown like you under that mask. But he also wasn’t all bad. Even the worst people have a heart somewhere under all their hardened exteriors. Everybody deserved kindness, to feel joy… to be entertained, you concluded. And so your only wish from Santa that year was the Vader outfit, so you could stomp around to the Imperial March, mimicking that rich Black voice and the asthmatic wheeze, making your family and friends laugh. It felt good! Your mum had the foresight to send you to that free drama club on Kilburn High Road. That felt good too!

But I know

I know that in your teens you’ll find out that Vader’s voice really was Black – James Earl Jones, the voice of Mufasa, no less. And his mainstream side-lining will bizarrely coincide with your own self-side-lining, walking away from Performing Arts because you felt that dirty little half-caste n*****s from Kilburn just don’t make it as actors. I have no practical guidance for you because I know you’ll find yourself – it’ll be another decade from your late teens but you’ll find yourself – as we all do eventually. You’ll even join Vader’s side, for real.

However, I will say this: Nothing is ever purely black and white. Every mask we wear covers our grey areas – it’s behind the mask that we find our complications, our duality, our idiosyncrasies, and hypocrisies. And all of them, yes all – even the very worst – are beautifully human. You are beautifully human. Keep celebrating it.

LGBTQ+ criticism of Harry Kane was unfair

Aaron Fenton-Hewitt
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LGBTQ+ criticism of Harry Kane was unfair

LGBT fan groups have slammed the FA for asking England captain Harry Kane to not wear the ‘One Love’ armband during the World Cup in Qatar due to the risk of FIFA imposing sanctions.

Kane, along with captains of several other national teams, has chosen not to wear the armband after it was revealed the ban was against FIFA’s strict dress code.

Any player who chose to defy FIFA’s ruling would be cautioned with a yellow card. Consecutive yellow cards result in an automatic ban for the next match.

The armband aimed to show support towards the LGBT community. In Qatar, homosexuality is illegal.

FA chief exec Mark Bullingham admitted the threat of a ban made the team reconsider their actions.

Welsh fans refused entry to a stadium due to rainbow-themed hats.

“We’ve been clear that we want to wear the armband it is important to us, but equally we need to work through all of the discussions right now and see where we end up”, he said to the media.

“That’s what we are working through right now, we’ve had meetings this morning FIFA and discussion are carrying on.”

“As I’ve said we are very keen to wear the armband, we want to do it, but obviously we need to consider the implications.”

“Normally in this type of situation, there is a fine. We’d be prepared to pay the fine because we think it’s important to show our support for inclusion.”

It comes after an international debate surrounding the controversy as to how Qatar acquired the right to host the World Cup in the first place, as well as Qatari culture and its treatment of migrant workers, LGBT citizens and women.

LGBT arrogance won’t end well

If there was ever an example of how arrogant and authoritarian LGBT lobbies can be, this is it.

Qatar is by no means a perfect country – no country is – but there are aspects of the criticism that seem to be rooted in an existential crisis from certain LGBT lobbies.

Qatar is a conservative Muslim country. As such, their laws will reflect Islamic culture and values.

Qatar has strict laws regarding not just homosexuality, but other forbidden sexual acts such as fornication, adultery and children being born to unmarried parents. Public displays of affection – straight or gay – is frowned upon.

Questions have been raised regarding the balance between free will and the ‘morality police’, but ultimately, it’s an Islamic country. What you see is what you get.

Dr Nayef bin Nahar, an outspoken Qatari academic, called out a US journalist who claimed he was detained outside a stadium for wearing a rainbow t-shirt.

Did the LGBT community really expect Qatar to suspend their laws (and by extension, their religion) to suit them? Did they hope their campaigns would undermine the religion and culture of a sovereign nation?

Laws don’t necessarily have to be respected, but they will be obeyed regardless. Criticising a country’s laws is fine, but bluntly telling a country what to do shows a misplaced, self-inflated sense of importance and relevance.

One could argue that the LGBT lobbies are simply not used to not getting their way, and so they have no option but to defame and slander a sovereign nation.

Not only is Qatar a sovereign nation, but crucially they possess the world’s third-largest oil reserves. It is estimated the country has enough to fuel the planet for the next two centuries.

This puts them in a very privileged position; one where they cannot be easily bullied, manipulated or dictated to by foreign powers.

Therefore, LGBT lobbies are not in a position where they can demand – not ask or request – respect or ideological conformation, as they have so often been in Western societies.

What happens now?

Qatar’s laws continue to be protested against by Western media and public figures, whilst Qatari fans have hit back at the perceived hypocrisy from the West.

After the German national team held their hands over their mouths, in a protest against FIFA, Qatar fans held up photos of German midfielder Mesut Ozil.

The former Arsenal and Germany midfielder ended his international career after he claimed he was made a scapegoat for Germany’s group stage exit in the 2018 World Cup.

Qatar fans hold up photos of Mesut Ozil, in a show of defiance to the German FA.

“I will no longer be playing for Germany at the international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect”, Ozil said at the time.

“When high-ranking DFB officials treat me as they did, disrespect my Turkish roots and selfishly turn me into political propaganda, then enough is enough.”

A pitch invader was caught by officials after wearing a t-shirt which read ‘Respect for Iranian women’ whilst holding a Pride flag.

International debate is expected to continue during and after this edition of the World Cup.

Immigration did not cause white British decline in UK major cities 

Common Sense Contributors
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Immigration did not cause white British decline in UK major cities 

By Junior Usina

Immigration or Brexit did not cause white British decline in UK major cities as right-wing political commentators want you to believe.

The United Kingdom is one of the most multicultural countries in the world. The 2021 census data recently released by ONS sparked outrage online among right-wing political commentators who were shocked and noticeably outraged. According to newly released race and ethnicity data, there is a further decline in people identifying as White British and Christians. 

The outrage displayed by right-wing political commentators is based on a false notion. That is the idea that White people are now in the minority in the UK. In Manchester 57 per cent identify as white, while London is 54 per cent and Birmingham 49 per cent. A whopping 78 per cent of people identified as British, and black and mixed raced and British minority groups are more likely to identify as British than white in London. 

Nigel Farage is outraged by the news. Source: Twitter

So, what had caused White British decline in UK’s most diverse cities?

Surely, not an increase in immigration or Brexit as right-wing political commentators want you to believe. 

In recent years there had been calls for action to tackle the growing ethnic segregation across the UK. According to the ONS current data release on race and ethnicity, ethnic minority groups in the UK are becoming more diverse. Past studies show that White British people are moving out from some UK’s main areas where there is increasing ethnic minority groups’ diversity. White minority in London, Manchester, and Birmingham may rise from White British flight, that is White British people exiting diverse areas rather than a decline caused by immigration. 

Another lie by the right-wing political commentators is about restricted areas, the isolation of a race class, or ethnic group by enforced or voluntary residence. White British are simply fleeing and moving out of these areas by voluntary means or for other reasons, they are not been forced out by immigration. 

Meaningful contact diminished intergroup prejudice and enhanced cultural knowledge. It looks like these right-wing political commentators are not having any meaningful contact with other groups or they simply decide to ignore the UK is more diverse. More diverse ethnic groups identify as British according to the ONS 2021 data. 

White people are increasingly less present in London, Manchester, and Birmingham and these cities are the most diverse in the UK. Communities with fewer White British are at a greater rate in diverse areas. 

The British White population are exiting inner-city regions in an increasing number, and they avoid moving to diverse areas when they do move. At the same time, there are only miniature variations in ethnic diversity in the most largely British White areas, such as Barrow in Furness, Mid-Devon, Bassetlaw, and Mid Sussex. White British flight is persistent in some areas across England and Wales urban areas, particularly London boroughs’ towns and inner cities.

The UK is becoming increasingly diverse, but the levels of integration are not keeping pace. White British family units should be stimulated to stay in culturally changing areas to decrease the inclination. Social isolation challenge trust among neighbours, cultivates anxiety and promotes the prejudice which drives the politics of accusation the right-wing political commentators are parading on social media.

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