Letter in Times today

Today is International Day of the Midwife. Wherever you work, however you provide care, thank you for everything you do every day to keep mums and babies safe and well 💙

🔥 Superb video. FIVE reasons why Trump's tariffs, ironically, help strengthen the European economies.

This is "I Put Up Tariffs" 🎶- perhaps the first ever parody song (?) to make reference to the Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930. It's based on #BobMarley's legendary "I Shot the Sheriff" and sung from the point of view of #Trump, unleashing his frenzy of #tariffs on the USA & the world. youtu.be/_DyNjjSxO8s

Five Failures in the Oval Office (video) open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p... Really excellent analysis

Re last night’s events in the WH. DJT calls himself a great businessman who makes great deals. But there are persistent stories of him having bullied suppliers and those he considered less powerful than him, into accepting bad deals. Or not paying them at all. I think we see how that works now.

This is really thought-provoking (although you might question the gender category). Thanks to jackhegley.com

A great speech from Trudeau

What a really sad photo!

I wrote this on one of the darkest days of my life. It gave me an anchor to hold onto.

Former British ambassador to the U.S. (and Best for Britain Board Member) Kim Darroch, on Trump "reaching for petrol while your house burns".

New post on The Climate Brink from Zeke @hausfath.bsky.social about our climate future. With current policies, we’re on track for a bit less than 3C, with 2030 NDCs we’re on track for about 2.5C, and with net zero pledges we’re on track for a bit less than 2C. www.theclimatebrink.com/p/moving-awa...

One in five Britons aged 18-45 prefer unelected leaders to democracy, poll finds 😱 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

A year ago, when Suella Braverman wrongly said grooming is mainly undertaken by Pakistanis there was at least some outrage, some pushback, some degree of people standing up & reacting. Now it is totally normal for politicians across the right to say it. www.theguardian.com/society/2023...

Strangely the Mail didn’t lead with the poll finding that a majority of the British public think that Elon Musk shouldn’t be allowed to make a large donation to Reform.

The true cost of Brexit. Get all the stats 👉 bestforbritain.org/brexit_impact

they’re on the hunt, they’re after you

A decent man is a rare thing. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...

Doctors are one of the most diverse occupations There are now more women starting medical school than men & the majority of GPs are now women ifs.org.uk/sites/defaul...

1 in 10 Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller lives end in suicide - a shocking statistic. This time of the year, when mental health can be fragile and risk of suicide high, we’ve launched short films presenting the lived experience of people from these communities. Learn more: www.nhsrho.org/news/new-res...

Postoperative mortality overall was higher in Black men compared with White men, White women, and Black women, after adjusting for potential confounders. A similar pattern was found for elective surgeries... www.bmj.com/content/380/...

When someone shows you what they really are, you better believe them! www.theguardian.com/world/2024/d...

I’d like to think Fraser is correct. We are doing something right which other countries still struggle to do. But it’s about our society & community, not government

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and good wishes to everyone whatever they believe

This tickled me. By Ellie Black for the New Yorker.

The devastation on its way is unimaginable - like nothing humanity has ever witnessed before - and everyone will wish they had been climate activists and ‘hysterics’ when they had the chance. We are in a moment of unprecedented stupidity

Christmas came early to the Hill household. Lots of fun, including Traitors crackers which were excellent- highly recommend

That moment when you Whamageddon yourself by forgetting that it was on the Christmas playlist you were playing whilst cooking! 🙈

Gisele Pelicot may, with her quiet bravery and determination, have struck the biggest blow for women since the suffragette movement. It will not have been easy for her. I am in awe of what she has achieved #GiselePelicot

BREAKING: Dominique Pelicot found guilty of all charges reut.rs/4iG59Kf

A little louder for the folks in the back: The development of vaccines is likely the greatest achievement of mankind. www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...

Sometimes you don’t need to do your own research. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

FUN FACT: Measles, polio, diphtheria, mumps, rubella and tetanus are six once-common illnesses that vaccines have contained for decades, saving many millions of lives.

Just stop what you’re doing for 10 seconds and imagine you’re a child in Gaza right now. Can you bear it for 10 seconds? www.theguardian.com/world/2024/d...

Curious as to which of these sectors the anti-immigration lobby would like to see shrink... www.ft.com/content/ca44...

If I was picking person of the year, without a shadow of a doubt, it would be Gisele Pelicot. She has and will change things around the world.

The real person of the year.

Poverty is killing people. Average male life expectancy in Blackpool declines to 73.1 yrs, females 78.9 Rich Kensington and Chelsea: 83,4 yrs for males, 86.5 females. Hiking of UK state pension age hits the poor, results in wealth transfer from poor to the rich. www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...

It's stating the obvious i know, but the more we learn about the reality of healthcare in the US, the more we should reconnect with appreciating the NHS & the principles of the NHS. Yes it's bruised & battered, but NHS still represents a commitment to a basic sense of fairness, decency, & community.

‘Brexit problem’: UK tap water safety at risk after testing labs shut down Oh dear

The number of people with significant #disability has risen to 1 in 6. Persons with disabilities are often disadvantaged in health care access and face stigma, abuse and neglect. 👉 bit.ly/40XJSmq #HealthForAll

Great to spend the morning @enherts.bsky.social Urology with Professor Nikhil Vasdev observing a robotic prostatectomy. The innovations he has introduced are having a significant impact on patient care and outcomes