Articles by Kevin Schofield

Technology

Sadiq Khan Reignites Donald Trump Feud By Backing Zohran Mamdani

Sadiq Khan has reignited his long-running feud with Donald Trump by backing left-wing Democrat Zohran Mamdani to win the race to become mayor of New York. Mamdani has come under fierce attacks from the US president, who has labelled him a “communist” and amplified false claims that he is in the US illegally. Trump has also threatened to withhold US government funds from New York if Mamdani wins the election, which taking place today. The US president has been an outspoken critic of Khan too, recently telling the United Nations General Assembly that he is a “terrible terrible mayor” and accusing him of wanting to introduce Sharia Law to London. A source close to the London mayor said there were “similarities between the attacks Mamdani has faced and what Sadiq has faced in elections”. “Weaponising Mamdani’s faith and linking him to terrorism and extremism is an old campaigning tactic, and one we’re all too familiar with here in London,” the source said. “The closer we get to the election, and the more his positive vision has connected with voters in New York City, the more divisive and desperate Mamdani’s opponents have become. “The mayor hopes that like in London, New Yorkers see through the politics of hatred and fear, and embrace Mamdani’s hopeful and optimistic vision for the future.” When will the NYC mayor be announced? Polls are open from 6am until 9pm New York time (11am until 2am UK time). The first results will come in shortly after the polls close, meaning we should have a result by Wednesday morning UK time.

Technology

Labour's Inquiry Into The Grooming Gangs Scandal Is In Crisis. Here's Why

The government’s inquiry into the child grooming gangs scandal is in crisis, giving Keir Starmer another problem to add to the huge list of challenges facing his struggling administration. Four survivors of abuse have quit their roles in the probe in recent days amid claims Downing Street is dragging its feet over the inquiry. The only remaining candidate to chair the inquiry, Jim Gamble, announced on Wednesday that he was withdrawing from the process. The Home Office said: “We are disappointed that candidates to chair that inquiry have withdrawn. This is an extremely sensitive topic, and we have to take the time to appoint the best person suitable for the role.” Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, is also facing calls to resign after being accused of misleading parliament over the government’s handling of the scandal. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch piled the pressure on Starmer at prime minister’s questions, where the PM announced that his favourite troubleshooter, Dame Louise Casey, has been drafted in to “support the work of the inquiry”. Here’s what you need to know. How did we get here? In June, Starmer finally threw his weight behind a national inquiry into the rape and sexual abuse of vulnerable young girls by groups of men of mainly Pakistani origin. The PM had previously rejected calls by the Tories and Reform UK for a national probe, insisting his focus was on implementing all of the recommendations of a previous inquiry into child sex abuse by Professor Alexis Jay. Starmer even accused politicians demanding a national probe of jumping on a “bandwagon of the far-right”. But he climbed down after an independent report into child sexual exploitation by Baroness Casey said a national inquiry was needed. Then home secretary Yvette Cooper said the audit was “damning”, and proved not enough action has been taken to protect victims in the 15 years since the scandal was uncovered. Casey also said agencies looking into the scandal had tried to avoid mentioning the ethnicity of the suspects, even though there was “clear evidence of over-representation” of Asian and Pakistani men. Why is the inquiry back in the news? Two abuse survivors, Fiona Goddard and Ellie-Ann Reynolds, resigned from the inquiry’s victims and survivors panel on Monday, citing concerns about a “toxic environment”. Two other unnamed women on the panel followed them on Tuesday. The women also expressed concerns over attempts to widen the scope of the inquiry, and the candidates being considered to chair it, one of whom was reportedly a former police chief and the other a social worker. Annie Hudson, a former director of children’s services for Lambeth Council, has now reportedly withdrawn her candidacy to be inquiry chair following recent media coverage. Until a chair is chosen, the inquiry cannot get properly underway. What has been the government’s response? Writing in The Times on Wednesday, home secretary Shabana Mahmood insisted that the focus of the grooming gangs inquiry “will not change”. That was in response to concerns raised by survivors that its scope would be broadened out to include other kinds of sexual abuse. Mahmood said: “The victims and survivors were failed, both at the time of their abuse and in the many years afterwards. They were not believed. They were treated as an inconvenience. In some cases, they were even made suspects themselves. “I know that the only way that we, as a country, can move forwards is when we finally get to the whole truth. That is why this government committed to a full, statutory, national inquiry.” She insisted it “will never be watered down on my watch” and vowed that the victims would eventually get the justice they deserve. “There will be no hiding place for those who abused the most vulnerable in our society,” the home secretary said. “Nor will those who ignored victims, and even covered up what occurred, be shielded from the truth.” How has that gone down? Judging by the difficult time Starmer was given by Badenoch at PMQs, not very well. She said she was giving her first question to Fiona Goddard, one of the victims who resigned from the liaison panel on Monday. Badenoch said: “She said, ‘being dismissed and contradicted by a minister when you’re telling the truth takes you right back to that feeling of not being believed all over again’. “Fiona’s question is simple: ‘What’s the point in speaking up if we’re just going to be called liars?’” Badenoch went on to demand the PM sack Jess Phillips, but Starmer instead gave his minister his full backing. “Let me give Fiona and the House my answer because the grooming scandal was one of the worst scandals of our time,” the prime minister said. “Women and girls were abused and exploited by predatory gangs of men, and survivors have been ignored for many years including by the state that of course is supposed to protect them. “My vow to Fiona and them is that this national inquiry will change that and I do acknowledge that in recent days some members including Fiona have decided to step away from the panel. “I say this, should they wish to return, the door will always be open, but even if they do not, we owe it to them and to Fiona and to the country to answer the concerns that they have raised. “The inquiry is not and will never be watered down. Its scope will not change. It will examine the ethnicity and religion of the offenders and we will find the right person to chair the inquiry.” The PM’s warm words are all well and good, but the grooming gang victims – and the country at large – want to see those responsible brought to account. His government will be judged on how quickly they can deliver that justice.

Technology

Donald Trump Falls Back On His Favourite Kremlin Talking Point After Putin Talks Cancelled

Donald Trump has once again fallen back on his favourite Kremlin talking point after his plans to hold peace talks with Vladimir Putin collapsed. The US president wrongly claimed – for the umpteenth time – that Ukraine had started the war in the first place. That echoes Russia’s claims that the eastward expansion of NATO – and Ukraine’s plans to join the alliance – led to the conflict. In actual fact, the war began with Russia’s invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. Trump was responding to a question about Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy wanting to buy more missiles from the US. Trump said: “He’s always looking to purchase missiles. Listen, when you start a war you’ve got to know that you can win the war. You don’t start a war against somebody that’s 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles.” Trump claimed last week that he would hold another peace summit with Putin, this time in Budapest, within a fortnight. However, Russia has refused to accept America’s ceasefire terms, so the talks have been called off. It is the latest blow to Trump’s hopes of ending the war, and led to fresh claims that the US president is “being played” by his Russian counterpart.