Spotting a peacenik by the newspaper they read | Brief letters

Spotting a peacenik by the newspaper they read | Brief letters

Guardian policing | Going commando | Underwear shrinkage | Talking to strangers | Leg stoma bags Some years ago, my sons travelled with Aston Villa supporters going to Wolves. A young policeman picked them out at the railway station along with others to be shepherded to the ground. But an older sergeant advised the constable: “Not those two – that one’s got a Guardian under his arm.” How’s that for peacenik recognition? Non-bearded, they weren’t even wearing sandals. David Drew Birmingham • There’s a simple solution for those concerned with running their washing machine at 60C to wash underwear or risking contamination ( Letters, 24 February ) – take the military option and go commando. Dr Bob Aron Ilkley, West Yorkshire Continue reading...

Labour Together ‘making clean break’ after former director resigns as minister

Labour Together ‘making clean break’ after former director resigns as minister

Thinktank’s board distances itself from Josh Simons’ decision in 2023 to hire lobbying firm to investigate journalists A Labour thinkthank that helped Keir Starmer win No 10 has said it is making a “clean break” from the past after its former director, Josh Simons, resigned as a minister over a report falsely linking journalists to a “pro-Kremlin” network. The board of Labour Together distanced itself from Simons’ decision in 2023 to hire a lobbying firm to investigate Sunday Times, Guardian and independent reporters who were looking into its failure to declare more than £700,000 in donations. Continue reading...