Rogue landlord ‘motivated by greed’ jailed
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Rogue landlord ‘motivated by greed’ jailed Banzai Japan Music Video A landlord who was among a group of property agents who defrauded and misled flat-hunters on an “unprecedented” scale has been jailed for three years and five months. Mohammed Haque, along with three others, was convicted in October of eight counts of fraudulent trading. A fifth defendant was found guilty of two lesser offences. A trading standards investigation found they posted about 18,000 misleading adverts for rooms in east London, hooking in victims who were pressured into paying deposits to move into “horrible” properties. Some ended up trapped in them while others were evicted without notice. Many victims said their experiences had had a severe financial and psychological impact. Book Novotel Hotel Haque, 47, set up various companies operating across Tower Hamlets, including Citiside Properties Ltd and Flintons, based at the same address in Mile End, and had links with several other firms, trading standards found. Haque, his former wife Fatima Begum, 42, Gonzalo Egea, 43, and Razaur Oli, 51, were convicted at Southwark Crown Court of fraudulent trading, while Haque, Nozir Ahmed, 56, and the two companies Barrons London Ltd and Roomshare Ltd were found guilty of the less serious charge of engaging in unfair commercial practice. Ahmed and Roomshare were also convicted of engaging in aggressive commercial practice. Banzai Japan Music Video ‘Tip of the iceberg’ One man told Southwark Crown Court his life was made “hell” by Flintons and he was left feeling suicidal by the firm, while another tenant said he was treated like a “stray dog”. One victim said she was forced to live in a flat ridden with mice; others said they felt “violated” and were left penniless. Tower Hamlets trading standards investigation team leader Sean Rovai said the case was “virtually unprecedented in its size and complexity”, with more than 200 known victims between 2017 and 2021. However, he said that number was likely to be the “tip of the iceberg”. The defendants appeared to target those unfamiliar with the London rental market, such as foreign workers and students, using popular sites such SpareRoom to post misleading pictures of rooms that were not in fact available, the investigation found. Prospective tenants were tricked into parting with large deposits, pressured into taking out tenancies without being able to view properties first, and many became “stuck” in low-quality accommodation that bore no resemblance to adverts. Some were threatened when they tried to move out while others found themselves trapped, without anywhere else to go, investigators found. When tenants chose to leave at the at the end of their contracts, their deposits were not returned to them. “Almost every area of malpractice in this industry that we see was encapsulated in this one case,” Mr Rovai said. “It was all motivated by greed and profit. And there was very little sympathy for any of these victims.” In some cases, the firms evicted tenants with no notice by removing all their possessions and changing the locks while they were out. Tenants were treated “terribly”, Mr Rovai said. ‘I had nowhere to go’ Fashion worker Julius Agyei, who rented a room from Flintons, said he was “devastated” by what happened to him after he moved to London from Manchester. Arriving home to Mile End from a day out at Winter Wonderland in December 2018, he found his key did not work. “Everything was locked,” he said. When a housemate let him in, Julius found all his possessions had been removed from his room. “It was empty, there was literally nothing; I was devastated. All my clothes, shoes, my passport, lots of meaningful items… I never got them back.” Julius spent the night on the street before seeking help at a homeless hostel the following day. “I had nowhere to go… I had nothing so I literally had to start from scratch… it took me a while, it was very challenging.” Julius said in the years that followed, he suffered panic attacks, a breakdown and flashbacks. “I was traumatised by it… it wasn’t just shoes and clothes, it was deeper than that.” Usually, landlords must obtain a court order to evict tenants. But these companies tricked people into signing what are known as licence-to-occupy agreements – usually used for holiday accommodation – which effectively enabled them to throw people out on the street. The firms were “not averse” to getting rid of those who complained, Mr Rovai said. “There was always a queue of people desperate for housing so they can afford to kick them out.” Many victims took out tenancies after being lured in with “bait-and-switch” advertising. The firms used photos of high-quality accommodation that was not actually available, in order to generate interest. Yan Liu was hooked in by one such advert on SpareRoom for a room in a property near the Bow Road in Mile End, when she was studying medicine nearby. “It was pristine and £600 per month.” She went to the Citiside Properties office an hour later but was told the room was no longer available. “I was about to leave but they insisted to show me other properties.” She was then pressured into paying £300 just to view an alternative room. However, the firm did not show her the room and refused to refund her money. She was told the only way to get her money back was to redeem it indirectly by taking out a tenancy agreement. “£300 is is not a small amount of money,” Yan said. “I felt that because I paid that deposit with them, I didn’t have any other choice: if I want to get the money back, I have to rent with them.” The room Yan eventually moved into was more expensive and “much crappier” than the one she saw advertised, she said. It had no heating and a faulty electricity supply, meaning she could not cook. ‘Humiliated and embarrassed’ Israel Kujore went
When is the Spring Statement and what could Rachel Reeves announce?
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel When is the Spring Statement and what could Rachel Reeves announce? Banzai Japan Music Video The chancellor will set out her plans for the UK economy during the Spring Statement on Wednesday 26 March. Rachel Reeves has ruled out further tax rises, but faces difficult choices because of the weak performance of the UK economy and world events. What time is the speech? Reeves is due make her statement in Parliament at about 12:30. Afterwards, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) – which monitors the government’s spending plans – will publish its forecast for the UK economy. It will also say whether it thinks the government will stick to its self-imposed rules on borrowing and spending. Reeves will present the watchdog’s main findings alongside her economic plans. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride will respond for the Conservatives. Book Novotel Hotel What is the chancellor expected to announce? Reeves has committed to one major economic event each year – the Budget. She has already signalled that she will neither raise taxes nor government budgets in this statement. However, with the government under pressure over its finances, she is expected to update her growth forecast, and provide more detail on policies already announced. Welfare spending Cuts designed to save £5bn year by 2030 from the welfare bill were announced on 18 March. These include stricter tests for personal independence (Pip) payments, affecting hundreds of thousands of claimants, and a freeze on incapacity benefits. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will publish details about who will be affected. Civil service Banzai Japan Music Video The chancellor has pledged to reduce government running costs by 15% by the end of the decade. About 10,000 civil service jobs are expected to go, including staff who work in HR, policy advice, communications and office management. Aid and defence The chancellor is expected to argue that “the world has changed”, and the government must respond. It has already pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027, and she may say more about this. Tax changes Personal tax rises have been repeatedly ruled out. But UK taxes on big firms may change as part of a deal to avoid US trade tariffs. This could include the 2% Digital Services Tax (DST) which raises about £800m a year from global tech giants like Amazon and Meta. What are Reeves’s borrowing rules? Reeves has two main fiscal rules: Not to borrow to fund day-to-day public spending To get government debt falling as a share of national income by the end of this parliament She has repeatedly said her rules are “non-negotiable”. However the OBR’s forecast is expected to confirm that low financial growth and higher government borrowing costs are making it much harder to meet these rules by the 2029-30 financial year, as planned. How is the UK economy doing? In February the Bank of England halved its growth forecast for the UK in 2025. The economy grew by just 0.1% between October and December 2024, while the latest monthly figures show it shrank by 0.1% in January. When an economy is growing slowly – or contracting – businesses may not take on extra workers or give pay rises. Lower profits mean firms pay less in tax, which funds government spending. Business costs will also rise in April when minimum wage rates increase and National Insurance contributions paid by employers rise. This could be passed on to consumers. Meanwhile inflation is rising faster than wanted. The current 3% rate is above the Bank of England’s 2% target – and is expected to increase in 2025. The Bank moves interest rates to try and keep inflation on target, and cuts are less likely when prices rises are above 2%. Higher interest rates make loans, credit cards and some mortgages more expensive, but mean better returns for savers. Reeves has also warned that a potential global trade war – as a result of new worldwide US tariffs, would further lower growth and raise inflation. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
‘Top tier’ US fast food chain confirms UK launch with free burgers
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel ‘Top tier’ US fast food chain confirms UK launch with free burgers Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo An American fast food chain that’s best known for its chargrilled burgers is heading over the pond and opening in the UK in a matter of days. Carl’s Jr. announced in May 2024 that it would be launching here under the stewardship of Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), and now the very first location has been confirmed. The debut restaurant has set up shop in Cardiff and is officially opening its doors to the public on April 3, inside St David’s Dewi Sant – the city’s biggest shopping centre. The space will be able to seat 70 guests and will create 30 new jobs for the local community, with the chain said to be bringing a ‘West Coast vibe tailored to British tastes’. Those who visit the restaurant on launch day will be in for a real treat as the chain is giving away 100 free burgers to the first customers. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Set to rival the likes of Burger King and McDonald’s, the Carl’s Jr. menu will feature a selection of four ‘classic’ burgers, three premium Angus beef burgers, as well as several chicken burgers. There will also be ice cream milkshakes, bottomless soft drinks, chicken tenders, brownies and ice cream sundaes on offer. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s The new Cardiff site is just the beginning for the chain in the UK and Ireland, with an expansion plan already in place. More restaurants are expected to launch later in 2025 and into 2026, with Carl’s Jr. looking to target big cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, and London. David Moffat, Country Manager for Carl’s Jr. UK, said: ‘Carl’s Jr. has a reputation for delivering high-quality, crave-worthy food that stands out in the burger market. ‘We are thrilled to bring Carl’s Jr. to Cardiff, marking our first location in the UK. The team at BRG has been working hard to bring the Carl’s Jr. experience to the UK, and we can’t wait to welcome our first guests soon.’ Comment nowExcited to try Carl’s Jr. or do you think the UK has enough burger chains already?Comment Now While this new restaurant will be the first taste of Carl’s Jr. for many Brits, the chain is already established outside of the US with branches across Europe in countries like France, Spain, Denmark, and Switzerland. The chain was first established in Anaheim, California, in1941, and now has more than 4,000 locations worldwide. But what exactly do people like about it? Online, fans have praised Carl’s Jr. for its side dishes, especially the French fries. Taking to Reddit, a user known as u/SnooCupcakes2018 claimed the fries were ‘the best’, while u/KeepItHeady posted: ‘Carl’s Jr. has top tier sides for fast food. When you compare Carl’s Jr. to other fast food chains, they pack a serious punch on the sides game. ‘Carl’s Jr. has gone through a few different types of fries over the past few decades. At a certain point, they were “natural cut” and had skins on, and were a little bit thicker. Now, Carl’s has gone with a thinner shoestring fry, which in my opinion is top tier. Up there with McDonald’s fries for sure, although Carl’s don’t really have that added beef flavoring like McD’s. They always put the correct amount of salt on these fries and I always get fresh fries at Carl’s.’ Others couldn’t get enough of the Western Bacon burger which features a beef patty, bacon, cheddar cheese, onion rings and BBQ sauce in a sesame bun. ‘The western bacon cheeseburger is the GOAT,’ proclaimed u/CapitalPin2658, and u/Michaelskywalker agreed, saying: ‘Western bacon goes crazy.’ Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Pizza Hut franchisee accused of ‘wage theft’
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Pizza Hut franchisee accused of ‘wage theft’ Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Pizza Hut workers are accusing a franchise of ”blatantly unlawful” behaviour alleging it has altered timesheets, docked wages and stopped payments per delivery. Glenshire Group which runs all 22 Pizza Hut delivery outlets in Scotland has been served with a grievance by the Unite union on behalf of drivers who claim they were told of changes by text with no consultation. Delivery driver, Cian, told the BBC that Glenshire had shown ”a complete disdain for their staff and their customers” and said it was ”quite honestly abysmal”. Glenshire said it is “absolutely committed to robust employment practices” and said it is “listening to our colleagues, to understand where there are concerns”. Cian, 30, has been delivering pizzas in the west of Glasgow for more than two years. An employee of Pizza Hut franchise, Glenshire Group, he has always been paid the National Living Wage plus a fee of £1.45 per delivery. But he said his terms and conditions were changed without consultation or warning. He said two weeks ago he and several other drivers were told via text message that his pay had increased to £12.21 an hour but he had lost his £1.45 delivery payments, or what the company calls “discretionary driver commissions”. ”The £1.45 would pay for my fuel and a tiny bit of the running cost of my car but I’ve been living paycheque to paycheque,” he told the BBC. “We had multiple drivers just quit because they simply can’t afford to do this job if they’re having to pay for their own fuel. There’s one shop that has lost every single one of their drivers.” In a letter to staff dated 10 March, seen by the BBC, Glenshire said: “We have removed discretionary driver commissions with effect from today. This change is necessary to ensure the sustainability of our operations.” The letter does not state that the company has any plans in place to ensure drivers’ expenses will be paid by Glenshire. In a statement to the BBC, the company said that ”driver commissions have not been reduced, rather the remuneration model has changed from a ‘per delivery’ amount to a ‘per mile’ basis”. ‘Attempt to offload drivers’ Unite’s head of hospitality, Bryan Simpson has accused Glenshire of ”a cynical attempt to offload over 100 drivers” before the rise in employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs), the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage on 1 April. Among the increases next month, the National Living Wage for people aged 21 and over will rise from £11.44 to £12.21. “I have never seen something so blatantly unlawful occur, even in an industry, frankly, that is not known for decent workers rights. This is the worst that I’ve came across in over a decade,” Mr Simpson said. He said the loss of drivers’ commission per delivery could effectively mean that “these workers are going to be brought below the minimum wage. “They’re going to be losing thousands of pounds a year. So, as far as we are concerned, this is fire and rehire under a different name.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 ‘Not worth me keeping my job’ Unite’s grievance, seen exclusively by the BBC, also accused Glenshire of acting ”fraudulently” by going into old staff timesheets and retroactively adding unpaid 20 minute rest breaks. In a text message seen by the BBC, Glenshire director Zibby Ghafoor told store managers ”all time sheets have been deleted for last week..can we please add breaks in.” Unite claims Glenshire unlawfully deducted these breaks from their wages. In its statement, Glenshire said that there have been “no changes to break policies”. A manager called Adam, not his real name, said he works for hours on his own in his store. He said it’s simply not possible to take breaks. “You do not get your 20 minutes of uninterrupted time ever…so not only do we not get breaks, we now get charged for the breaks that we don’t take.” Cian says it’s his ”civic duty” to speak out even though he knows it could put him at risk of losing his job. ”I’m trying to help people who can’t stand up for themselves, because the way the Glenshire group have treated everyone is abysmal. The long term ramifications of what they are doing, it’s just not worth me keeping my job.” Glenshire Group employs more than 200 staff including more than 100 delivery drivers although over the last few days, the BBC understands several have quit. In the 10 March letter to staff, Glenshire said that with the increases in employer NICs and the National Living Wage rise on 1 April it was having to “reassess our driver delivery model in order to retain business viability”. It also said drivers could choose to switch from being employed to self-employed. The letter stressed this would be a voluntary choice and would not be compulsory. Glenshire last night told the BBC there were “no blanket changes to self-employed contracts taking place”. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s Call to investigate Employment lawyer Joanne Moseley of Irwin Mitchell warned that from 1 April, when the new National Living Wage is introduced, Glenshire could be in breach of minimum wage regulations. “If Glenshire doesn’t reimburse its drivers for payments they’ve incurred in connection with their employment – in this case their petrol expenses – they will be in breach of the NMW regulations. HMRC will investigate and has the power to impose financial penalties,” she says. Adam called on bosses of the Pizza Hut company to investigate the Glenshire franchise. “Please be aware of what this company are doing to your brand. Please be aware of what they’re doing to the staff and all for their own benefit, all to save them money,” he said. A spokesperson for Pizza Hut UK said: “Pizza Hut is deeply committed to ensuring a safe
Calls for student visa rules to be scrapped
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Calls for student visa rules to be scrapped Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo The government should scrap a rule which prevents some international students bringing their families with them to the UK, a senior university official has said. Professor Jennifer Watling, of Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), said the restriction, introduced in 2024, has led to a fall in the number overseas admissions. She said international students brought “value in terms of cultural richness and diversity” but were also important sources of funding which many universities rely on. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 A government spokesman said while the UK values the contribution international students make, “net migration must come down”. The Labour government has previously said it has no plans to lift the ban on relatives arriving with international students, which was brought in under the Conservative government, external to curb migration. International student visa applications have fallen across some universities since the change was introduced according to Home Office figures. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s Prof Watling said the cap on fees for domestic students meant universities “have to obtain income from sources other than UK students”. UK undergraduates fees are set to rise to £9,535 a year from September. International students studying at the same level pay an average of about £22,000 annually, though some pay as much as £38,000, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) said. ‘More welcome’ There are more than 51,000 international students at universities in the north west of England, according to 2024 admission figures from advocacy group Universities UK. A study by think tank the Higher Education Policy Institute found income from these fees can be vital to universities. Rose Stephenson from the Institute, said: “For Manchester, there was an economic benefit of £450 million which actually translates to over £3,500 per resident, again per cohort of international students coming in.” Despite the falls in admissions, international students are still attracted by opportunities in the UK, Margarida Vasconcelos, a digital marketing student at MMU, said. She said: “There are a lot of international students and opportunities, people from different cultures, religions, so it makes it us feel more welcome – it was why I wanted to come to Manchester.” “This government strongly values the contribution that international students make to our economy, to our education institutions and to our society,” a Home Office spokesman said. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Middleton banned as company boss over £1m unpaid tax
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Middleton banned as company boss over £1m unpaid tax Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Former SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton has been banned from being a company director, after his company failed to pay more than £1m tax. The Insolvency Service said Mr Middleton and his wife, Emilie, “were taking millions of pounds out of” their company when it should have been paying the tax instead. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 The couple’s “media representation services” company, Sway and Starting, went into liquidation in 2022 owing £300,000 in VAT and £800,000 in corporation tax. It had had £4.5m income in the previous three years, “indicating it had enough income to pay the tax it owed in full”, the Insolvency Service said. Meanwhile, the couple had taken out a £3m directors’ loan from the company. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s ‘Financial duties’ The couple, both 44, from Essex, have been disqualified as company directors for four years. They have not commented. Insolvency Service investigation and enforcement services director Dave Magrath said: “Ant and Emilie Middleton had legal and financial duties as directors to ensure their company paid the corporation tax and VAT it owed. “Instead, they were taking millions of pounds out of the company at that time. “This disqualification should serve as a deterrent to other directors that if you do not pay your taxes while directing money elsewhere, you are at risk of being banned.” ‘Woke patrol’ Mr Middleton had agreed a payment plan with the liquidator to pay £300,000 to settle the outstanding directors’ loan. However, he made only the first payment and then put their home on the market in an attempt to repay the rest. The former United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) soldier was the chief instructor on SAS: Who Dares Wins when it launched, in 2015. He left the gruelling reality show in 2021 over what Channel 4 called his “personal conduct off camera”, with press reports he had made inappropriate comments to a member of staff. In response, Mr Middleton said the “woke patrol” had taken over the series. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Apology over inside-out windows on tower blocks
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Apology over inside-out windows on tower blocks Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Residents of two tower blocks in north London have described their shock after discovering replacement window panes had been installed inside out. People living on the Chalcots Estate in Swiss Cottage have endured years of building work to remove dangerous cladding the same as that used on Grenfell Tower. Maryan Nur, 33, told the BBC: “Imagine waiting for all of these years and you think finally you’ll come back to your room, your building, your flat and it’s inside out. It’s terrible, I can’t even imagine it.” Camden Council apologised, adding: “This is not a safety concern but will affect the reduction of overheating in the summer so we will be putting this right straight away.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 A council spokesperson added: “This corrective work does not extend the overall programme as it can be done simultaneously to the remaining work which needs to be done and will be of no extra cost to the council or the taxpayer.” The external cladding was removed from five tower blocks following fire safety inspections in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017. Tests had shown that the cladding used was identical to that at Grenfell. The local authority has since spent millions of pounds to rectify the cladding. The issue with the windows was first reported by the Ham & High newspaper, external. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s Another resident, Alketa Aykac, told the BBC: “It’s unbelievable. Where is the quality control before handing over the flats? “It gives me anxiety now due to thinking ‘will it happen again to my flat, will it get noticed?’ How many things have gone unnoticed? “It is quite worrying.” Kumari, who lives in one of the blocks affected, said: “Obviously I was shocked. “I’m not happy about it. When it’s windy, we can hear the howling. It’s not nice, especially at night when you’re trying to sleep.” A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We are contacting the residents who this issue affects to arrange for our contractors to install the glazing correctly. “Each reinstallation takes about 40 minutes and this will not be noisy work. “All works on the windows will be checked independently once completed. “We apologise to the affected residents for this additional work.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Political protests: Who are the Stop Brexit campaigners?
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Political protests: Who are the Stop Brexit campaigners? Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo The Houses of Parliament are a magnet for protests of all kinds. Here’s who has been making their voices heard in the rain on Monday. Who are they? Steve Bray, a 48-year-old rare coins dealer from Port Talbot, in South Wales, says he spends every day, from 11am to 6pm, protesting against Brexit opposite the Houses of Parliament. He met fellow protesters Jane Pierce and Helen Campbell, both from London, through an anti-Brexit Facebook group, which is trying to keep a permanent protest going, while Parliament is sitting. They stage a daily evening vigil outside nearby Downing Street, for protesters who have to work during the day. Steve says he has funded his campaign by selling some of his stock and has been staying with friends in the London area. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 What do they want? “Our message is that it’s never too late to stop Brexit,” says Steve, “it’s a wrong turn for the country.” Their big hope is that there will be another general election and that public opinion will shift their way when the final Brexit deal is revealed. So where were they before the EU referendum? “We were living in cloud cuckoo land,” says Jane, who runs a charity, “thinking it could never happen”. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s How is the protest going down? “We do get people hollering at us ‘get a job’,” says Helen, “but I’m self employed.” Taxi drivers have been particularly hostile, she adds, but she has noticed a change in their attitude in recent weeks. “I think they are starting to realise it is not turning out how they wanted.” Steve says: “We’ve had people trying to rip the flags out of our hands. One man said I should be hung as a traitor. I said ‘I’d like to see you try’.” But he says they have had a positive response from a lot of passers-by, as well as MPs and members of the House of Lords, one of whom wandered over to give him £20 to get a drink. “I spent it on flags,” he adds. What is the government’s position? In its response to a petition to calling for a referendum on the final Brexit deal, external, to be debated next month the government says: “There must be no attempts to remain inside the European Union, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door, and no second referendum. “The country voted to leave the European Union, and it is the duty of the Government to make sure we do just that. “Rather than second guess the British people’s decision to leave the European Union, the challenge now is to make a success of it – not just for those who voted leave but for every citizen of the United Kingdom, bringing together everyone in a balanced approach which respects the decision to leave the political structure of the EU but builds a strong relationship between Britain and the EU as neighbours, allies and partners. “We want a deep and special partnership with the EU. We aim to get the right deal abroad and the right deal for people here at home. We will deliver a country that is stronger, fairer, more united and more outward-looking than ever before.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
General election 2019: Anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray to stand for Lib Dems
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel General election 2019: Anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray to stand for Lib Dems Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray is to stand for Parliament for the Lib Dems. The activist is a familiar figure in Westminster where he regularly bellows his ‘Stop Brexit’ message through a megaphone outside the House of Commons. He has been selected to fight the seat of Cynon Valley in south Wales. It has been held by Labour for more than 30 years but its longstanding MP Ann Clwyd has retired and is not standing again. The Lib Dems have vowed to cancel Brexit if they win power. The party’s leader Jo Swinson dismissed suggestions Mr Bray’s candidacy was a stunt, saying the Lib Dems needed people prepared to put themselves on the line to stop the UK leaving the EU. “He cannot be accused of not being committed to his cause,” she said. “To have candidates who care so passionately about that is a positive.” Who are the Stop Brexit campaigners? Mr Bray, a rare coins dealer from Port Talbot, has spent every day since September 2017 protesting opposite Parliament, where his anti-Brexit antics having become a tourist attraction in their own right. He and fellow protesters who he met through an anti-Brexit Facebook group also stage a daily evening vigil outside nearby Downing Street. The 50-year-old says Brexit is a “wrong turn” for the country and must be stopped. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Mr Bray would appear to have little chance in Cynon Valley, where the Lib Dems polled only 585 votes in 2017, finishing fifth behind UKIP. Wales, as a whole, voted to leave the EU in 2016 but the Lib Dems have made gains there in recent times, winning the seat of Brecon and Radnorshire in a by-election in August. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s The Lib Dems have formed a loose electoral pact with other anti-Brexit parties, including Plaid Cymru, which will see the parties not fielding candidates in some of their respective target seats to try and maximise the pro-Remain vote, Plaid Cymru has already selected a candidate in Cynon Valley, where it came third in 2017. Ms Clwyd retained Cynon Valley with a majority of more than 13,000 in 2017, having represented the seat since winning a by-election in 1984. Labour has selected Bethan Winter to fight the seat. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Brexit: Steve Bray vows to carry on ‘Mr Stop Brexit’ protest
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Brexit: Steve Bray vows to carry on ‘Mr Stop Brexit’ protest Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo A man who uprooted his life to protest against Brexit has vowed to carry on protesting outside Parliament. Steve Bray, from Port Talbot, has become known as “Mr Stop Brexit” for his divisive hollering in Westminster. He said he was prepared for the “longest protest ever” and would “not give up” until the UK rejoined the European Union. Supporters of Brexit celebrated the moment the UK left the EU with a party in Parliament Square on Friday. In the 2016 referendum, 52% of UK voters backed the Leave campaign. But grandfather Mr Bray has protested outside Parliament every day MPs have sat since 5 September 2017 – and has become something of a tourist attraction in his own right. The 50-year-old has interrupted live broadcasts with his shouts of “stop Brexit”, and gate-crashed interviews with placards. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 While Mr Bray has scaled down his campaign there is no sign of him going away any time soon. “This is my first ever protest, I was never that political before, but so much is at stake,” he said. The self-employed rare coin dealer has vowed to remain outside Parliament for as long as it takes for the UK to rejoin – but only every Wednesday, when Prime Minister’s Questions is held. “It is not a question of if or when – we will join the EU. It could be 10 years, it could take 50 years, it could turn into one of the longest protests ever.” His interruption of Theresa May’s farewell speech with his “stop Brexit” cry led to her replying “I think not”, while her replacement as Prime Minister Boris Johnson told him to “put a sock in it”. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s He sold some high value coins to fund the campaign and made merchandise to sell. “I sold some of my collection, rather than leave them to the children I thought I would use it to leave them a better future,” he said. A crowdfunding campaign raised more than £70,000 for him and other protesters to rent a flat near Parliament. They moved there after living on the same street as pro-Brexit minister Jacob Rees-Mogg – who he said he bumped into “quite often”. Mr Bray said some of the hardest times were during the Beast from the East in 2018, when he said a member of the House of Lords came outside to give him a coat. “I’ve been spat at a few times, assaulted a few times, all very minor things. “It does take a toil, but the hatred drives me on more than the support,” he said. In his home county, Neath Port Talbot, 56.8% of people voted to leave during the poll in June 2016. Mr Bray stood in the Cynon Valley for the Liberal Democrats in the 2019 general election, but only secured 949 votes. “People just have different views,” he said. “We need the government to know we are not giving up and not going away”. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol