Oxford News
Tommy Robinson peddles ‘racist lies’, activists say before UK protest
Oxford Stand up to Racism Group will march in London in commemoration of Nakba Day, and against the far-right group.
The Nakba march, which is Arabic for “catastrophe,” refers to the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948 around the founding of Israel.
A spokesperson for Oxford Stand up To Racism said: “Oxford Stand Up To Racism will be joining the anti-fascist bloc on the Nakba commemoration march on Saturday.
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“We are marching in opposition to Tommy Robinson’s fascist rally and to defend the right to protest.
“It is a scandal that a fascist has been given permission to hold a mass rally in central London, while the Nakba Day march has been marginalised.
“Robinson’s aim is to platform far-right and fascist speakers to peddle racist lies about Muslims, migrants and refugees to stoke racist division and to build a racist street army.
“We remember the horror that fascism brought in the 1930’s and we say ‘never again’.”
Also known as the ‘memory of the catastrophe’ the day is in remembrance of the Palestinians who were forced from their homes during the establishment of The State of Israel in 1948.
Oxford city centre march (Image: Ed Nix)
The protest, on Saturday, has been organised by the Palestine Coalition and Stand Up To Racism, and is scheduled to start at noon.
It will go from Exhibition Road to Waterloo Place via Brompton Road, Hyde Park Corner, and Piccadilly.
The march coincides with a Tommy Robinson-backed ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protest, which the Prime Minister said is “designed to confront and intimidate this diversity and this diverse country”.
The group is also planning a protest against Oxford Union’s decision to invite far-right activist Tommy Robinson to ‘debate’ on whether the West is right to be suspicious of Islam.
A spokesperson for the group said: “By inviting Robinson the Oxford Union is helping to boost and legitimise Robinson’s racism and fascism.
“This invitation can only give confidence to his supporters to be more active here.
“At a time of rising racist attacks and increased far right and fascist activity in the UK this invitation is dangerous, and negligent of the safety and peace of Oxford’s diverse community.”
Ahead of the protests the government has blocked 11 foreign “far-right agitators” from entering the UK for a Tommy Robinson-led demonstration, including Polish MEP Dominik Tarczynski and anti-Islam influencer Valentina Gomez.
A massive operation is being planned by the Met as the two protests take place and the FA Cup final take place.
Thousands of officers will take to the streets and armoured vehicles will be deployed along with police horses, dogs, drones and helicopters as the Met aims to avoid clashes.
Live facial recognition will also be used for the first time at a protest.
Oxford News
Gogglebox star Ken Harwood dies aged 77 after short illness
Harwood, from County Durham, appeared on the Channel 4 show alongside his wife Anne for five series (series 15 to 19) between 2020 and 2022.
The pair featured on the hit Channel 4 series alongside other couples, including Giles and Mary, Dave and Shirley, Stephen and Daniel, and Marcus and Mica.
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Mr Harwood was a postmaster for 30 years, as well as a local councillor, before retiring in 2013.
He and Anne were married for 55 years.
Gogglebox pays tribute to former star following death
In a statement, production company Studio Lambert said: “He will be dearly missed by his wife Anne, sons Simon and Ross, daughter-in-law Elle, grandchildren Freya and Tristram, and all who knew him.”
Recommended reading:
Series 27 of Gogglebox continues at 9pm on Channel 4 (and Channel4.com) on Friday (May 15) night.
A tribute to Mr Harwood will be shown at the end of the episode.
Do you remember Ken and Anne Harwood from Gogglebox? Let us know on the comments below.
Oxford News
M40 – critical care on motorway after serious crash
Emergency services shut the M40 between J11 at Banbury and J12 at Gaydon during the afternoon rush hour of Thursday, May 14.
According to Highways England, the incident involved a vehicle that has left the carriageway.
The air ambulance landed nearby to help with emergency services.
Meanwhile, traffic was backed up for more than an hour and stretched back over two miles once lane three had reopened.
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A Thames Valley Air Ambulance spokesperson said: “We can confirm that our helicopter was dispatched to provide advanced critical care at an incident in Banbury yesterday.”
Thames Valley Police was approached for a comment on the condition of those involved, but it refused to comment.
Oxford News
British Gas pay £20 million compensation after Ofgem ruling
The energy regulator Ofgem found that British Gas installed prepayment meters without consent in some homes between 2018 and 2021, including properties deemed vulnerable.
The findings followed a lengthy investigation by the regulator, which has described the case as one of its most complex to date.
Tim Jarvis, chief executive of Ofgem, said: “It is clear that British Gas fell short in its treatment of an unacceptable number of vulnerable customers who had a prepayment meter installed without consent, and it’s right that they’ve taken action to put things right.
“Because of our action customers will receive a substantial package of redress, compensation and debt write off.”
As part of the settlement, British Gas will write off up to £70 million of energy debt for vulnerable customers.
The £20 million compensation covers customers who were impacted between 2018 and 2021, in addition to payments already made to those affected in 2022 and 2023.
Chris O’Shea, group chief executive of Centrica, which owns British Gas, said: “What happened should never have happened, and I am sorry to the prepayment customers who were affected.
“When we get things wrong, we make them right.
“When these issues came to light in 2023, we apologised, stopped the activity immediately and took rapid action to improve our processes and change how we engage with customers in debt, particularly those in vulnerable situations.
“Over the last three years, we have treated this matter with the seriousness it deserves and have made changes to our practices and put safeguards in place to ensure we deliver the standards our customers have every right to expect.”
Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, added: “British Gas has finally been held to account for the forced pre-payment meters scandal.
“The results of the Ofgem investigation are truly shocking.
“They have confirmed that British Gas knew about these failings as far back as 2018, was warned again in 2021, and still did not take adequate action.
“That means the firm knowingly forced prepayment meters onto customers, potentially including those with disabilities and families with young children.
“While the £20 million fine, combined with up to £70 million in debt write-offs, is a significant outcome to the investigation, it should not be mistaken for the end of this story.”
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